The national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dispelled a call for the dissolution of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led committee, insisting that the ward congresses to elect party executives will hold nationwide on July 31, as scheduled.
On Wednesday, a chieftain of the APC and minister of state for labour, Festus Keyamo, had warned that the continuous stay of the Buni-led committee could spell doom for the party going forward.
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Mr Keyamo spoke following the judgement of the Supreme Court, in an election appeal filed by Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for the Ondo election, Eyitayo Jegede against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. The apex court held that no elected executive can hold another office simultaneously.
But at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), dismissed the concerns
“To this end, Ward Congress Committees of the party have already been inaugurated and delegated with the responsibility of conducting, supervising and monitoring the scheduled congresses,’’ Mr Akpanudoedehe said.
He said the clarification became necessary following the opinion of Mr Keyamo on the status of the party’s CECPC and its capacity to conduct the congresses.
Mr Akpanudoedehe said the party’s leadership, however, had no intention to join issues with those commenting on the Wednesday Supreme Court’s judgment that affirmed the election of Mr Akeredolu of Ondo State.
He said that the court ruling had no bearing on the CECPC’s status and its membership.
The APC scribe, therefore, urged members and aspirants to come out en masse to participate in the congresses on Saturday.
He urged politicians to be guided by the spirit of a good sportsman and accept defeat in good faith.
Mr Akpanudoedehe noted that those questioning the authority of the Buni-led CECPC to conduct the congresses were only venting their anger having realised that they might lose.
“All what we are hearing is because of the congresses; I want to assure them that the congresses will be fair and transparent.
“I want to advise them to go into their wards and be a party man and a true politician.
“When you lose, you dust yourself and re-strategise, not to destroy the party by misinforming the entire public,’’ he said.
He stressed that members of the CECPC would continue to stand by Mr Buni, adding “we declare our unalloyed loyalty to him and to President Muhammadu Buhari.’’
He maintained that the APC remained strong and resolute, saying that Mr Buni had been able to move it from the woods to a higher place.
According to him, the APC will not dance to the beating of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and will not be used to run the federal government down.
He called on members of the party to remain loyal, saying that the APC was firm in everything it was doing and about the President Buhari-led administration.
