All is set for APC Congress

All is set for tomorrow’s ward congress of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 34 of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The party’s Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) yesterday insisted that the congress will hold, despite some misgivings in some quarters.

Two states – Anambra and Zamfara – will not participate in the exercise due to the imbroglio that erupted over the last governorship primary and the leadership crisis in both chapters.

In Kwara State, APC members loyal to Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed have threatened to hold a parallel congress.

On Tuesday, the group loyal to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had announced that it would hold a separate congress.

Addressing reporters yesterday at the APC state secretariat in Ilorin, the Legal Adviser of the Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa-led caretaker committee, Mr. Ladi Mustapha said the faction would go ahead with the ward congress on Saturday.

He insisted that Bolarinwa remained the party’s authentic caretaker chairman in Kwara State, adding that he was legally sworn in in Abuja by the National Caretaker Chairman Mai Mala Buni.

Also, Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare assured the nation’s youth of his support for their aspirations to be elected into various positions in the forthcoming ward, local government and state congresses of the party.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his media office, Dare said: “I have continually advocated for the participation of youths in politics in a bid to build a balanced, fair and just society.

“The youth are key to nation-building. As such, we must engage them on policies, programmes and projects that will advance not just their cause but the society in general.

“At the party and national levels, I have consistently pushed for youth-friendly agenda for the sake of national interest.

“As the ward, local government and state congresses are scheduled to commence on July 31, the youth must be accorded their rightful positions in the party leadership hierarchy at all levels.”

Also, erstwhile senator representing Rivers South-east Senatorial District, Magnus Abe, yesterday faulted the suggestion by Minister of State for Labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo, that the APC should suspend its forthcoming congresses.

Keyamo had argued that the Supreme Court judgment in the case upholding Ondo Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s election had implications for the party.

The dissenting judgment had agreed with Eyitayo Jegede’s argument that Yobe State Governor Mala Buni’s occupation of the interim chairman is illegal.

In a statement, Abe expressed surprise over Keyamo’s stance on the matter, saying: “With all due respect to my learned friend, Keyamo, he was merely second-guessing the Supreme Court when he gave the impression or suggested, based on his understanding and interpretation of the said judgment, that any legal challenge against Buni must succeed, no matter the circumstances of the challenge.”

“This is simply incorrect. No two cases are the same. The Supreme Court itself wisely declined to make a pronouncement against Buni on the ground that he was not joined and not heard.

“Since the surrounding circumstances have not been made known to the Supreme Court for which it rightly declined to condemn Buni unheard, it’s preposterous to second-guess the court on that.”

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his media office, Dare said: “I have continually advocated for the participation of youths in politics in a bid to build a balanced, fair and just society.

“The youth are key to nation-building. As such, we must engage them on policies, programmes and projects that will advance not just their cause but the society in general.

At the party and national levels, I have consistently pushed for youth-friendly agenda for the sake of national interest.

“As the ward, local government and state congresses are scheduled to commence on July 31, the youth must be accorded their rightful positions in the party leadership hierarchy at all levels.”