The United Kingdom (UK) chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has advised the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party to postpone the party’s national convention, scheduled for February 26.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Dr. Philip Idaewor, Chairman, APC in the UK.
Idaewor stated that the postponement became necessary to enable the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to win more grounds in reconciling aggrieved members.
According to the APC UK chairman, the postponement would ensure the party retains power in 2023 while focusing on the much-needed fence-mending.
Said he, “It is better to shift the national convention to a later date and consolidate on the successes achieved by the convention planning committee in uniting various factions than to lose all it has achieved.
READ ALSO: http://BREAKING: APC writes INEC, confirms Feb. 26 as Nat’l Convention date
“We urge APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to immediately postpone the National Convention from Saturday, Feb. 26 to enable pending critical issues to be addressed.
“The postponement is important, especially now that the reconciliation committee, led by Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, has requested a one-week extension to complete its work.
“APC in the UK earlier weighed in on the matter some months ago, where it urged the party to align with best practices in deciding the convention date which should go with the election of the party’s presidential flag bearer,” Idaewor said.
Idaewor was quoted as saying that the proposal would ensure the highest participation of members in the diaspora as they would not dissipate logistics in travelling to Nigeria twice for the same event.
He, therefore, urged the party’s NEC to summon the courage and postpone the convention in the overall interest of all stakeholders to promote unity, harmony and cohesion within the party.
According to the diaspora APC group, rushing into a convention within the space of the next three weeks will further fracture the party.
However, the chapter regretted that the emergence of multiple factions in many of its state chapters does not project confidence that the party would have a smooth sail in the next year general elections.
“The logical thing is to allow the reconciliation committee to finish its assignment as there is no gain in progressing in error.
READ ALSO: http://Denmark becomes first EU country to lift all COVID-19 restrictions
“APC stakeholders will simply slave for others to enjoy, if the party holds the convention in February, as it will merely be solidifying the rancorous situation that is present at state levels.
“The Governor Buni-led committee has performed creditably which has left the APC UK wondering why the committee cannot be allowed more time to complete the good work it is doing.
“The committee has singularly brought reconciliation to several state chapters, and we are confident that it will make factional politics a thing of the past when it is given more time to restore sanity to the party,” the statement quoted Idaewor as saying. (NAN)
