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Tag: National Convention

  • BREAKING: APC finally announces date for National Convention

    BREAKING: APC finally announces date for National Convention

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally announced the date for the party’s National Convention.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the party as saying it will hold the national convention on 26th February 2022.

    Gov. Mai Mala Buni, National Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) made the announcement when he spoke at the APC National Women’s Conference 2022 in Abuja.

    Discussions on the APC national convention had been on the front burner since President Muhammadu Buhari approved the February date for the convention.

    Stakeholders of the party, including Dr Salihu Lukman, Director-General, Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) who resigned his appointment on Monday, had mounted pressure on the Buni-led APC CECPC to announce a specific date for the convention.

    The new National Working Committee (NWC) expected to be elected at the convention will take over the management of the party affairs from the Buni-led CECPC.

    The maiden APC National Women’s Conference was to discuss gender inclusiveness in politics.

    The conference with the theme: “One Voice Uniting for Progress”, was also to discuss greater role for women in governance and brainstorm on ways to strengthen women’s political rights.

    The conference organised by the APC through Mrs Stella Okotete, the women representative in the party’s CECPC was attended by more than 1,000 women drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The organisers were optimistic that it would address barriers to women participation in the political process under democratic systems as well as evolve strategies for getting women fully involved.

    More than 200 leaders from the three tiers of government as well as prominent business women and captains of industries were at the conference.

    Presentations from invited guests focused on inspiring and propelling women to greater successful forays into politics, governance and leadership roles in businesses.

  • APC National Convention will hold in February — Governors

    APC National Convention will hold in February — Governors

    The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), an umbrella body of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has given assurance that the party’s National Convention will hold in February.

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Chairman of the PGF gave the assurance while speaking with journalists at the end of a closed door meeting on Sunday night in Abuja.

    Bagudu, who did not give a specific date for the event, said the February date as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari was sacrosanct and still feasible for the conduct of the event.

    He added that the APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), as an organ of the party, was in the best position to announce the specific date for the convention.

    “We are one group of stakeholders in the party and our party respects institutions. The appropriate organ of the party that will announce a date for the national convention is the CECPC,” he said.

    Bagudu said the meeting passed a vote of confidence on the Buni-led CECPC and two other governors, Gov. Muhammed Bello of Niger and Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun.

    He noted that the governors had done an incredible job of running the party successfully and had mobilised people into the party fold, saying that the PGF was very happy with their conduct.

    “We discussed our upcoming convention which you may recall I had cause to address the press after we visited President Buhari in November 2021 where the president and the party agreed that the convention would take place in February.

    “We took inputs about the reviews and we noted all the misrepresentations in the press that we seek to correct that the PGF is one united body as you can see evidently from the attendance,” Bagudu said.

    He explained that the forum’s decision was unanimous, adding that it was united behind the president and the party’s caretaker committee.

    Recall that there has been immense pressure on the APC Buni-led CECPC to fix a specific date for the party’s national convention following Buhari’s approval that the event be held in February.

    Some of the party’s critical stakeholders had in the last few weeks engaged the caretaker committee over the delay to announce the venue and exact date for the convention.

    Dr Salihu Lukman, the PGF Director- General, recently called on members of the committee to resign their positions if they would not be able to conduct the party’s national convention in February.

    New members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) are expected to be elected at the convention to manage its affairs which was presently being managed by the CECPC.

    Those in attendance at the meeting included the Governors of Borno, Babagana Zulum, Jigawa, Mohammad Abubakar, Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, Niger Abubakar Bello, Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, Ekiti Kayode Fayemi, Kogi, Yahaya Bello.

    Others were the governors of Cross River, Ogun, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Osun, Lagos State, Imo, Plateau, Kano State and Nasarawa.

    The Deputy Governor of Anambra, Nkemakonam Okeke, represented his governor at the meeting.

  • APC denies shifting National Convention to June

    APC denies shifting National Convention to June

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied reports that it has shifted its National Convention earlier slated for February to June.

    Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Akpanudoedehe described the report as fake news.

    “The general public is advised to completely disregard a fake news on the reported suspension of the planned National Convention of the APC till June, as reported by some media outlets.

    “Dates for party activities such as meetings, primaries, congresses, National Conventions are communicated through well known official channels and not through sources.

    “The faceless authors and sponsors of fake news on APC activities, in this case the planned National Convention are simply bent on causing confusion and formenting crisis through misinformation,” he said.

    He further added that as a focus driven, process oriented political party, the APC CECPC under the leadership of Gov. Mai Mala Buni would not be distracted by self serving antics of these sponsors of fake news.

    He said the APC CECPC was already embarking on nationwide consultations with party stakeholders to prepare the grounds for a rancour free National Convention.

    “To this end, the sub-committee on budgeting and other substructures will be set up in due course,” Akpankudohede said.

    He noted and appreciated the continued support of well meaning members and leaders of the party as its Caretaker Committee undertook the immediate task of addressing contestations within its fold.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had approved February for the conduct of the APC National Convention to elect new National Working Committee (NWC) members to manage the party’s affairs.

    The party’s affairs is presently being managed by the Gov. Buni-led CECPC.

  • PGF boss, faults campaign for postponement of APC National Convention

    PGF boss, faults campaign for postponement of APC National Convention

    Dr Salihu Lukman, Director-General, Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), has described the call for the postponement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention by some persons from February to a later date as illogical.

    Lukman said this in a letter to APC leaders on Monday in Abuja while reacting to the development.

    Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu had on Dec. 13, 2021, written a letter to the Chairman, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning (CECPC) Gov. Mai Mala Buni, calling for the postponement of the convention.

    Lukman, however, warned that postponing the APC national convention could led to a repeat of 2019 Zamfara experience if the needful was not done.

    He said the APC CECPC should make a formal announcement about the date and venue for the convention to disassociate itself from such calls.

    He said such announcement is critical to prove that the committee is not interested in postponing the convention from the agreed February 2022 date as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Statutorily, by the requirement of the Electoral Act, the party is expected to serve at least 21 days notice of the convention to the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC).

    “This basically means that if the convention is to hold any day before February 28, 2021, the notice to INEC should be given on or before February 7, 2022.

    “That being the case, the temptation could be to argue that there is more time, some reminders would be necessary at this point,” Lukman said.

    He noted that Buni had done an excellent job since he emerged as chairman of the CECPC in June 2020 by ensuring peace within the party and should not allow his good works to be destroyed by postponing the convention.

    He called on APC leaders to wake up to their responsibility of providing the needed political leadership to the country.

    “No one should imagine that agendas set in 2014 or 2019 are sufficient to respond to contemporary challenges, which post 2023 governance will be expected to respond to.

    “If anything, it may also be important to emphasis the fact that to respond to contemporary challenges facing the country would require massive investment in human capital development.

    “This will call for a deliberate and aggressive policy to mobilise large-scale public investment to rebuild public schools at all levels.

    “The correlation between collapse of education since the mid 1980s, rising levels of unemployment and insecurity are very glaring,” he said.

    Lukman said APC must come up with practically convincing answers, which should form the basis of public support by Nigerians to guarantee its victory in the 2023 elections.

    He said the inability to discharge responsibility or avoid it by towing the path of a deceptive campaign for postponement of the party’s national convention could only spell doom for it.

    He added that this could also return Nigeria to the hands of those who laid the foundation for all the challenges currently facing the country.

    Lukman appealed to the APC CECPC to ensure that the February 2022 convention is not just about electing National Working Committee (NWC) members for the party.

    “There must be some reflections about the challenges facing the country, with priority focus on problems of insecurity, rebuilding public education and health through mobilisation of massive financial investment in these sectors,” he said.

  • Orji Kalu writes APC Chairman, seeks postponement of National Convention, simultaneous presidential primaries

    Orji Kalu writes APC Chairman, seeks postponement of National Convention, simultaneous presidential primaries

    The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the National Chairman Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, and members of the planning committee to consider postponing the earlier scheduled plan of holding a National convention in February 2022.

    In a letter addressed to the national chairman, Senator Kalu, warned that holding the convention in February without sorting out the minor disagreements that arose during the congress would lead to an implosion.

    He noted that some states are embroiled in crisis with multiple factions and it is important to put into consideration the consequences of these factions during and after elections.

    Senator Kalu further stated that it would be devastating to continue with the convention without settling the differences in various states and, sort out the issues of zoning which cannot be addressed in two months.

    He said it is important to first postpone the convention with all peace and reconciliation machinery fully put in place.

    Senator Kalu also proposed that a simultaneous event of having the presidential primary and election of National Working Committee (NWC) members on the same day and venue to avoid rancour and litigations.

  • Why Buhari approved February 2022 for APC National Convention – Buni

    Why Buhari approved February 2022 for APC National Convention – Buni

    The Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mai Mala Buni has said the party can no longer hold its national convention before the end of the year hence the February 2022 date approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The party attributed the postponement of the exercise till February, next year to protracted crises in Anambra, Zamfara and other state chapters, logistic challenges, preparation by Christians for Christmas and the proposed governorship election in Ekiti State.

    Speaking on the development on Monday, Buni who also doubles as the Executive Governor of Yobe State said there was also the need to concede to President Muhammadu Buhari the honour of picking a date for the convention, following consultations with party stakeholders.

    A tripartite meeting of the president, Progressives Governors Forum, led by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu and National Caretaker Committee took place yesterday in Aso Villa to discuss the convention.

    However, after the meeting, the party resolved to hold the exercise in February 2022, although it was not specific on a particular date.

    Explaining the shift in the proposed date, Bagudu told reporters that it was due to incomplete congresses in four states.

    He said: “Yesterday, November 21, the Progressive Governors’ Forum met, where we congratulated and thanked the Caretaker Committee for working so hard in leading the party. We also thanked the President for supporting them to deliver on their mandate.

    “I also explained yesterday that the Progressive Governors’ Forum discussed the issue of national convention of the party and they mandated us to come and discuss with the President as the party’s leader to give the input of the governors so that the party and the President will consider.

    “Part of the inputs we got yesterday was that we still have four states, which are in the process of completing their congresses like Anambra; understandably because of the recent gubernatorial election, Zamfara and two others, because of logistic challenges and then, Christmas is around the corner and early January we will be very busy with Ekiti.

    “So, the governors, based on all these, suggested the party and the President should graciously consider February and the President is favourably disposed to the suggestion.”

    Buni, who also spoke on the outcome of the meeting, said: “The Progressive Governors’ Forum, after their meeting, has suggested February to the party and the President has concurred. So, we are going ahead to plan for the convention in February.

    “Nigerians should expect more unity and progress as a result of the forthcoming convention.”

    On insinuations in some quarters that he might be delaying the convention to extend his tenure as the caretaker chairman of the APC, he said: “Am I a jobless person who is always trying to extend his tenure? To do what? I have my primary responsibility as a governor to go back to my state and carry out my primary responsibility.

    “What I am here to do is ad-hoc, and of course, to reposition the party and that is exactly what we have been able to achieve.”

    Buni said after the convention, APC will wax stronger as a more cohesive and united party.

    On the crisis between the National Caretaker Committee and some chieftains, Bagudu ruled out an impending explosion, saying those thinking along that line are out of tune with reality.

    He said instead of decimation, APC has enlarged its coast, adding that prominent people, including governors and National Assembly members, are defecting from opposition parties to the ruling party.

    When asked for a specific date in February, he said: “Well, we’ll let you know. You know, we have to work on a timetable. So, we have to communicate it to our various state chapters for them to be ready for the convention”.

    Buni also allayed fears that the tentative date was just an idea of the governors, excluding other caucuses within the party, explaining that party stakeholders were widely consulted so that there can be good planning.

    He added: “Of course, we have to consult widely and part of the reasons why even the governors met yesterday, 20 of the 22 governors attended. So, it is in consultation to that effect. So, it is a well consulted, well thought out plan”, he said.

    Bagudu said the forum would keep the public informed on its decision on zoning of elective offices.

    He, however, said that insinuations in some quarters that the governors’ meeting with Buhari was to discourage him from assenting to the amended electoral bill should be disregarded.

    Bagudu stressed: “That is not correct. I just told you we are meeting the president, it is to discuss the on-coming national convention of the party,’’ he stressed.

  • APC National Convention: Buhari endorses February 2022

    APC National Convention: Buhari endorses February 2022

    President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed February 2022 as new date for the National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, confirmed this development to State House correspondents at the end of a closed door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was also attended by the Chairman of APC Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, who is also the governor of Yobe, as well as Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa.

    Bagudu, who was not specific on the exact date for the convention in February, said the convention was shifted because four states were yet to complete their congresses.

    He said: “Yesterday, Nov. 21, the Progressive Governors’ Forum met, where we congratulated and thanked the Caretaker Committee for working so hard in leading the party. We also thanked the President for supporting them to deliver on their mandate.

    “I also explained yesterday that the Progressive Governors’ Forum discussed the issue of national convention of the party and they mandated us to come and discuss with the President as the party’s leader to give the input of the Governors so that the party and the President will consider.

    “Part of the inputs we got yesterday was that we still have four states which are in the process of completing their congresses like Anambra; understandably because of the recent gubernatorial election, Zamfara and two others, because of logistic challenges and then, Christmas is around the corner and early January we will be very busy with Ekiti.

    “So, the Governors, based on all these, suggested the party and the President should graciously consider February and the President is favourably disposed to the suggestion.”

    The National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, who also spoke on the outcome of the meeting, said: “The Progressive Governors’ Forum after their meeting, has suggested February to the party and the President has concurred so we are going ahead to plan for the convention in February.

    “Nigerians should expect more unity and progress as a result of the forthcoming convention.”

    On insinuations in some quarters that he might be delaying the convention to extend his tenure as the Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Buni said;

    “Am I a jobless person who is always trying to extend his tenure; to do what? I have my primary responsibility as a Governor to go back to my state and carry out my primary responsibility.

    “What I am here to do is ad-hoc and of course to reposition the party and that is exactly what we have been able to achieve.”

  • APC Governors make moves for party’s National Convention

    APC Governors make moves for party’s National Convention

    Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have agreed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, to discuss the way forward for the party’s upcoming national convention.

    The governors under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) reached the agreement at the end of their meeting on Sunday night in Abuja.

    Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi and Chairman of the PGF, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the end of the closed door meeting.

    Bagudu, however, said he did not know when the party’s national convention would hold.

    “We agreed as a forum to seek an appointment to meet with President Buhari and discuss the on-coming national convention of the party.

    “Mind you, we are just one organ of the party, and since we are making suggestions to both the party and our leaders, I think it is not fair to preempt or disclose it before the meeting holds.

    “We hope to secure that appointment as quickly as possible.

    “We are seeking the appointment as soon as possible, maybe in the next few days,’’ the PGF chairman said.

    Bagudu said the forum would keep the public informed on its decision on zoning of elective offices after its meeting with President Buhari.

    He, however, said that insinuations in some quarters that the governors’ planned meeting with Buhari was to discourage him from assenting to the amended electoral bill should be disregarded.

    “That is not correct. I just told you what we are meeting the president for, it is to discuss the on-coming national convention of the party,’’ he stressed.

    Bagudu said that the forum also discussed issues of good governance, development in the polity and other issues that were pertinent to the progress of the party and the country.

    He said the forum passed a vote of confidence on the party’s Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Committee and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee.

    “We passed a vote of confidence on the caretaker committee that has done a wonderful job, chaired by Gov. Buni of Yobe and two other governors who are members of the committee,’’ he said.

    Bagudu lauded the committee for successfully organising congresses for the party at the ward, local government and state levels.

    He noted that the committee had been making efforts to carry every party member along, including those that were aggrieved or felt dissatisfied by the outcome of the congresses.

    The governor said that such individuals were invited and persuaded to support the party in the interest of all.

    “Sometimes, electoral processes are not without annoyance, but we are happy with the conduct of the caretaker committee,’’ he said.

    The PGF chairman assured that the APC would not implode anytime soon as was being speculated in some quarters, adding that those expressing such fears were not representing reality.

    Bagudu said the APC had brought into its fold three outstanding governors, the Deputy Governor of Anambra, members of the National Assembly and distinguished Nigerians from all walks of life.

    “We are seeking for Nigerians to join us so that we can unify and serve Nigerians.

    “While other parties are sending people away, we are, in spite of our strength, inviting them to join us so that together we can reposition and keep the progressive agenda going,’’ he said.

    On the outcome of the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election, Bagudu said Nigeria had won and President Buhari had made a statement about that.

    He said the forum was proud of the conduct of the country’s security agencies before, during and after the election.

    “The party candidates in all elections have the pride of place to determine their views about the outcome.

    “But we are proud that under the APC that an election that hitherto people thought will be impossible had taken place,’’ he said.

  • Majemite, Delta guber aspirant congratulates Ayu, Anyanwu, Okowa, Amori, others

    Majemite, Delta guber aspirant congratulates Ayu, Anyanwu, Okowa, Amori, others

    Two time Commissioner and frontline Governorship Aspirant in Delta State, Olorogun Barrister Fred Majemite while addressing Journalists in Abuja, coñgratulated the PDP family for a hitch free National Convention and coñgratulated former Senate President, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, for emerging as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    Majemite described Senator Ayu as a thorough bread political titan with sound credentials capable of attracting more people to the party in the months ahead with a view to winning the Presidential Election come 2023. A development, which Majemite says will put Nigeria on a new path of growth and take NIgeria from the quagmire it is presently.

    Majemite who equally commended Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor, Delta State for the victory recorded with the just concluded Election of national officers of the PDP, called on all PDP members to work for the return of PDP at the center come 2023.

    Fred Majemite, the frontline Governorship Aspirant in Delta State also congratulated Anyanwu, Amori and other national officers for their victories. He expressed confidence in the abilities of the new national officers to take the PDP to greater heights.

    “Now that we have unanimously elected a new Chairman for our great party, the PDP along side other national officers, this is the time to give them all the needed support so that they can lead us to victory in the 2023 general elections,” Majemite, the frontline Governorship Aspirant noted.

  • ‘I disagree!’, Secondus vows to appeal court judgement as PDP commences national convention today

    ‘I disagree!’, Secondus vows to appeal court judgement as PDP commences national convention today

    Suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has vowed to appeal the ruling of the Court of Appeal allowing the party’s convention to proceed today (Saturday).

    Delivering the ruling on behalf of two other justices, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the attempt by the applicant, Uche Secondus, to suspend the planned convention is an act of “self-induced urgency” to disrupt an ongoing lawful process of the party.

    But the embattled National Chairman, in a statement he released shortly after the judgement on Friday said he disagrees with the Court’s conclusions.

    “I have just been briefed of the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt dismissing my motion to halt the National Convention of the party,” he said. “I respect the position of the court even though I disagree totally with it.

    “Even as the substantive case is still pending at the Court of Appeal I have instructed my lawyers to study the ruling with a view to appealing it immediately as no abuse of the constitution of our dear party should be allowed to stand.

    “The issue is not about Prince Uche Secondus but about the sanctity of our party constitution and core democratic principles of justice and rule of law not only in PDP but in our democracy. No impunity must be condoned.

    “I will therefore wish to emphasis the fact that I did not take the party to court and would not have done that. As a foundation member of this party who has served at various levels, State Chairman, Chairman of state Chairmen, National Organizing Secretary, Deputy National Chairman, Acting National Chairman and now National Chairman, am very much abreast with the workings of the party. I have been a witness to how much harm litigations have done to our party in the past and as a result I have been a strong advocate against settling issues in courts.

    “This was why I resisted and rejected entreaties of those who wanted me to go to court to halt these forces when it was obvious that they were determined to disrupt my leadership and truncate my tenure in office with the sole objective of hijacking the party for their selfish ulterior motives.

    “To allow this travesty to stand is to reduce our beloved party to a level where anybody can wake up over night and remove officers against the proscribed constitutional process and the National Chairman for that matter. And purporting to use the judiciary through an experte order to legitimize same.

    “As a major practitioner in our democracy, I am duty bound to protect and defend the sanctity of the provisions of our constitution of which am the custodian.

    “I wish to therefore at this juncture thank and appreciate leaders and other stakeholders of our party who have called in to express their concerns on this matter and appeal for the understanding of all.

    “If those who orchestrated and fostered this avoidable crisis had listened to wise counsel of party leaders and elders who advised the withdrawal of cases, this situation would have been avoidable. I wish the party well as always.”