APC postpones congresses indefinitely

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its congresses from ward to national level indefinitely. This was contained in a letter addressed to Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the caretaker leadership of the party.

The letter dated July 6, 2021, was signed by Chairman and Secretary of the APC Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni and Senator John James Akpanudoedehe respectively.

“We refer to our letter reference number APC/NHDQ/ INEC/19/021/20, dated 10, June, 2021, on the above subject and wish to inform the Commission that the party has rescheduled its congresses and national convention to a later date which will be communicated to you.

“This serves as a formal notification pursuant to the provisions of section 85 of the Electoral Act (2010) as amended.

“While hoping to receive your cooperation, please, accept the assurance of my highest esteem,” the party said in the letter.

But in a statement in Abuja yesterday, Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe said,” the document in circulation does not intend a postponement of the congresses.

“How it leaked from INEC is strange. It is to cure the legal land mine occasioned by Section 85 of the Electoral Act on the issuance of 21 days notice bearing in mind that the earlier date we released was not sacrosanct.”

According to the timetable earlier released by APC’s Director of Organization, Professor Al-Mustapha Ussiju Medane, the exercise was to commence with the sale of nomination forms for the ward congress on the 1st and end on the 7th of July, 2021.