Dr Salihu Lukman, Director-General, Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has called for a clearer path to the holding of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention.
Lukman, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, noted that there was no need for further consultation by Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker and Exra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) after the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari.
CECPC had in a recent statement said it was embarking on consultations with party stakeholders to prepare the ground for a rancour-free National Convention.
“The statement, like previous ones from the CECPC didn’t announce any date and venue for the national convention.
“The statement said sub-committee on budgeting and other substructures will be set up in due course.
“If subcommittees, whether for budget or anything are to be set up, to perhaps mobilise funds for the convention, why are they not set up with just about two weeks to the end of January,’’ Lukman wondered.
He described as disappointing, the failure of the party`s CECPC to announce the date and venue for the national convention even after Buhari had approved the February date for the convention.
Lukman added that with such approval, the responsibility of the CECPC was to go ahead and start organising the convention.
He also noted that with almost two months after the president’s approval for the APC national convection to hold in February, the CECPC was yet to issue notice for the convention to stakeholders.
“Not even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which by the provision of the Electoral Act as amended, is required to be given at least 21-day notice,’’ Lukman said.
He added that by not announcing the date and venue for the convention the CECPC was promoting speculations around the APC national convention.
“For whatever reasons, it would appear that the leadership of CECPC is enjoying all the public speculations maligning governors and some senior leaders of the party as working to stop the National Convention from holding in February.
“This is most unfortunate. The truth must be told, the responsibility of organising the February 2022 APC national convention rests squarely with the CECPC,’’ he said.
He said the first challenge in addressing the party`s leadership issues was to ensure that the CECPC had no option but to organise the National Convention in February as decided based on the consultations that had taken place.
“The CECPC should also stop claiming that it is waiting for the meeting of Progressive Governors before it takes all the necessary decisions to commence the process of organising the convention.
“Such a claim is not only dishonest but also taking the support of Progressive Governors for granted,’’ Lukman said.
He said that progressive governors, like all party members would not associate themselves with any act of disrespect to decisions validly taken in consultations with President Buhari.
“They will not take the responsibility of actions or inactions of the CECPC. Every responsibility of organising the convention is vested with the CECPC,’’ he said. (NAN)
