Strong indications that the proposed National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would hold on March 26 has emerged, with the resumption of sale of nomination forms and training of 250 ushers for the exercise billed for Eagle Square, Abuja.
In a statement which was sighted by Africa Today News, New York, the Party revealed that it would be selling the chairmanship form for ₦20 million; Deputy National Chairman, ₦10 million; Zonal Chairman (National Vice Chairman) and other officers for ₦5 million. While the sale of forms would end on Friday, March 18, screening of aspirants would be held on Saturday, March 19.
Recall that Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, had last week taken over the affairs at the APC national headquarters, announcing himself as the replacement of Buni who had headed the CECPC since 2020.
This unsettling development had caused rivalry among APC governors and other stakeholders in the party who declared support for Bello even as they accused the Yobe governor of plotting against the convention.
But Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), yesterday, reclaimed control of the national secretariat of the party.
Though Buni did not show up at the secretariat, secretary of the CECPC, John Akpanudoedehe, arrived the party headquarters around 12 noon to a rousing reception by staff and party officials.
He told newsmen that the situation in the party was grossly misrepresented insisting that the Governor Buni’s-led CECPC was intact. He said Buni was on his way back to Nigeria after his medical trip and would resume duty immediately. He also said the March 26 proposed national convention was still on course and commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ‘for firm guidance in the entire circumstances.’
On the crisis over the party’s national convention, Akpanudoedehe said the APC has engaged a team of senior lawyers to address ‘a purported court order halting the planned’ exercise.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK