APC threatens to deal with members who hold parallel congresses

Ahead of the ward congresses slated for Saturday, July 31, 2021, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned its members not to participate in any activity that will put the party in a bad light.

A notice addressed to members by the National Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee (CECPC), Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, said the party will invoke the necessary disciplinary measures on those who hold parallel congresses.

It reminded party members of the resolution of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which directed members not to take the party to court unless it has exhausted “the internal mechanism for conflict resolution, as enshrined in the party’s constitution.”

“All activities that may be carried out by persons to put the party and its officers in bad light before, during and after the congresses should be jettisoned,”

“All activities or processes leading up to the congresses and thereafter which do not have the approval of the CECPC are exercises in futility. This is to say that any purported parallel congress, parallel party organ and or parallel party office, is to say the least a nullity.

“These divisive activities will not be tolerated.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the party shall deploy the full weight of the law as stipulated in section 21 (D) of our party’s Constitution on anyone who perpetrates such unlawful Act (s) and also on their sponsors.

“All persons who are affected by Article 31 of our constitution should apply for waivers as stipulated under sub. Section 3 of the said article 31, this is also clearly spelt out in the ‘Special provisions’ of our guidelines,” the notice said.

Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, had called for the suspension of the congresses, following the Supreme Court’s judgement on the Ondo State governorship election.

Keyamo.asked the party to sack Buni and anyone holding any executive position on the committee and immediately suspend the planned congresses.

He said this is to avoid legal battles since the competence of Buni to hold the position as chairman has been questioned by the Supreme Court.

2023: PDP is a failure, Nigerians can never return to Egypt-APC

The APC has said Nigerians will not vote for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in 2023.

The ruling party said this while reacting to a statement credited to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

On Thursday, Abubakar said Nigerians cannot wait for the PDP to return to power, adding that he had never seen the country in such a bad state.

“I believe Nigerians can’t wait for 2023 to come so that PDP will return.

“I have never seen it this bad, I’m seventy plus. I have never seen it this bad in terms of security challenges, in terms of unemployment. I have never seen it so bad — this is the worst,”Atiku told reporters after a meeting with Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Governor.

In a statement on Friday, Akpanudoedehe, said the PDP is a failure.

He said the opposition party was in power for 16 years, yet there is nothing to show for the time spent.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar ought to know that Nigerians can never return to Egypt again. They cannot vote the PDP in 2023, having tested the party and known that it is a failure. In other words, nothing good can come out of PDP.

“They were there for 16 years without anything to show for it. The achievements of our party in the less than eight years in power has eclipsed the PDP 16 wasted years.

“APC is not in the class with the PDP in many ways,” Akpanudoedehe said.