By Emmanuel Oloniruha
A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) members, under the aegis of Concerned APC Stakeholders Forum (CASF), have expressed satisfaction with the postponement of the party’s national convention.
The CASF Executive Secretary, Dr Abdulkadir Suleiman, in a statement on Monday in Abuja applauded the decision of the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), describing it was a “right step in the right direction.”
Suleiman also praised President Muhammadu Buhari “for always being a listening father, who wants to see the APC continue with its legacies even after 2023”.
He stated that the group was in support of the change, adding that, “it would have been disastrous and a breach to the party’s constitution, should the national convention hold“.
“Organising a national convention before zonal congress would have would have resulted in putting the cart before the horse.
“The party conducted ward congress, local government congress and the state congress, where officers were elected into their respective offices.
“Skipping the zonal congress for national convention would have amounted to jumping the gun.
“We are happy that the CECPC has retraced its steps and has moved the party back in the right direction, “he said.
Suleiman said that Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led committee should be commended for its courage to postpone the exercise in line with the wishes of the majority of members.
“This courageous decision alone will go a long way to position our party on the path of victory, unity and peace,” he said.
Suleiman called on the need to use the period to rally all aggrieved persons in order to bring everyone on the same page.
“We even wish that the convention is shifted for six months to allow for genuine reconciliation of all aggrieved persons across the country and the resolution of the litany of court cases.
“When this is done we will be able to come to Abuja as a big and united family,” he said.
The CECPC on Monday approved the shift of the party national convention earlier scheduled for Feb. 26 to March 26.
Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary, CECPC, APC disclosed this when he spoke with newsmen shortly after the committee’s closed door meeting in Abuja on Monday.
Akpanudoedehe said that activities would commence on Feb. 24 and terminate on March 26 at the Eagle Square with the staging of the national convention. (NAN)
