A forum known as North-central APC Stakeholders Forum has cautioned Buni over the recent mass defections into the ruling party, warning against losing ideological focus of the party.
The group has also asked the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party to immediately convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) to avoid legal conundrum over the conduct of the congresses vis-a-vis its powers.
Addressing a press conference Thursday in Abuja, the Forum’s spokesman and former Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development in Kogi state, Prince Sani Ogu Salisu, also urged the caretaker committee to summon a meeting of the National Caucus of the party as prelude to the NEC meeting.
“We note the time-table released for congresses from the Ward to State level. Though belated, it is a step in the right direction. We urge the caretaker committee to resist the temptation to shift dates of the congresses under any guise. Though the extension of the tenure of the caretaker committee has become imperative, we make bold to say it can only be legitimate by aresolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC). Therefore, we call for an immediate convening of a NEC meeting to ratify the extension of the caretaker committee’s tenure and approve timelines for congresses and the National Convention.
“It is also imperative for this to be done so that our party does not face any legal conundrum over the conduct of the congresses vis-a-vis the powers of the Caretaker Committee to superintend over it especially after their extended tenure which ought to expire by 30th June, 2021.
“We also urge the caretaker committee to summon a meeting of the National Caucus, as a prelude to the NEC meeting in line with Article 12.5 of the APC constitution as amended. It has been the tradition of the APC to hold an expanded National Caucus meeting before NEC meeting. This is more crucial at this time as we need all hands-on deck to forge a common ground as we race towards the National Convention.”
On the recent mass defections to APC, the forum said: “The influx of opposition Governors and chieftains into our party has no doubt bolstered our base and the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) deserves a pat on the back for this. but we must be careful not to lose the ideological focus of our party in the wake of defections. Defectors must be willing and made to abide by the progressive ideology of the Party rooted in good governance and accountability which our party is renowned for.”
While commending Buni’s Caretaker Committee for some achievements recorded, the forum, however, demanded that the position of the national chairman be zoned exclusively to the North-central.
“Considering the contribution of the North-Central to the fortunes of the APC, we strongly deem it right for the position of the National Chairman to be exclusively zoned to our region, The north central is a bridging region between the north and the South. More so, such will be a signal of all-Inclusive governance in the party.
“After wide consultations, we have zeroed in on Distinguished Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Senator representing Nasarawa-South in the National Assembly and two-term Governor of Nasarawa State and a candidate with impeccable administrative credentials and astute political pedigree, and a unifier as our consensus candidate.
“We believe that Sen. Tanko Al-Makura possess the requisite qualities, temperament and experience needed to lead the APC, not only to victory in 2023 but to consolidate on the achievements of the Caretaker Committee and deepen the progressive ideology of the party.
“We urge party stakeholders in other regions of the federation to throw their weight behind Sen. Al-Makura and let’s have a repositioned APC that will be formidable enough to sustain and build on the legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
