Search for Consensus Candidates Responsible for Delay in APC National Convention

The search for an 'anointed and trusted' consensus national chairmanship candidate and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been identified as the main reason why the ruling party has yet to conduct its national convention and congresses across the wards and 36 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

Also, the delay was said to being machinated to give room for proper reconciliation in states like Rivers, Ogun, Kwara and others, where there are still controversies over the revalidaation of the membership register of the party.

Twice last week, the party wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend dates for the wards and states congresses that would lead to the national convention.

On July 6, 2021, National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudodehehe and four days later, it rescinded the earlier letter.

THISDAY reliably gathered that the indecision on the date for the national convention may not be unconnected to the fact that the leadership of APC has not been able to reach agreement on a candidatethat would be acceptable to all the interests in the party for national chairmanship.

Some members of the APC, like Senator Rochas Okorocha, it would be recalled, has said the only string holding the APC together was the person of President Muhammadu Buhari as the party would disintegrate after his administration.

A top source disclosed to THISDAY that the ruling party didn't want to conduct an elective convention, because of the fear of the outcome could polarise the party and the consequence, devastating.