National Convention: APC National Reconciliation Committee submits interim report
…As group calls for cancellation of Ekiti primaries
By Joel Oladele, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Reconciliation Committee, under the chairmanship of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu on Monday submitted the Committee’s interim report to the Chairman, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni.
Receiving the report on behalf of the National Chairman at the Party’s National Secretariat, member, CECPC and former Senate President, Ken Nnamani said the submission of the report is coming at a crucial period “as we approach the National convention and the 2023 general elections.”
He added, “Therefore, the findings of the committee would contribute in no small measure to a successful convention and the general election.
“As you are all aware, this committee is very important to our collective zeal of recovering, repositioning and rejuvenating our party for us to have a strong, stable and united APC.”
He commended the high sense of responsibility with which the committee handled the assignment entrusted to them which according to him, was obvious through their painstaking commitment to visiting states where the party has challenges and addressed them squarely.
“The great achievements the party has recorded in reconciling the differences among our stakeholders in Gombe, Ogun, Kwara, and many other states have justified the confidence the party has in your individual and collective capacities. You have truly done us proud.
“I want to thank you so much for adding value to our party through this all important assignment and look forward to your support in other commitments of the party,” Buni lauded.
The Chairman further expressed his confidence in APC, describing it as the Africa’s largest political party with the numerical strength to win all national elections
“As you are aware, the party conducted a successful membership registration and revalidation exercise and now proudly has over Forty-One Million membership making APC Africa’s largest political party and Nigeria’s leading party.
“With this numerical strength, APC remains the party that can confidently win elections with landslide victory in all the national elections,” he assured.
He however urged the party not to relent in its efforts to promoting national unity
“In spite of all the achievements recorded by the party under my stewardship, and the high profile defections into the party, it is very pertinent for the party to promote the philosophy of unity of purpose, to pursue national interests against personal interests and a functional system of internal democracy to have a United, stable and prosperous political party.
“Let me once again solicit for your collective support to the caretaker committee for the party to organize a very successful National Convention that will be a stepping stone to the party’s success in the 2023 general election.
“I wish to assure you that the Caretaker Committee will carefully study the report and implement the same to improve the unity and strength of the party.”
Meanwhile, a group under the aegis of Ekiti forum earlier on Monday staged a protest at the All Progressive Congress APC National Secretariat in Abuja to call for the cancellation of the party Primaries that produced Biodun Oyebanji as the APC flag bearer for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship elections.
Oyebanji who is the immediate past secretary to Ekiti government, they alleged, to be the anointed candidate of the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
The protesters carried placards with different inscriptions like: ‘Ekiti APC governorship primary is a fraud,’ ‘We love APC but hate fraud,’ ‘Cancel the primary election now,’ ‘Oyebanji can’t win for APC,’ and ‘APC is our party.’
In the “Option A4” direct primaries adopted for the election held on Thursday 27th January, Oyebanji polled 101,703 out of the 104,983 total number of votes.
Other aspirants in the party primaries scores are as follows: Opeyemi Bamidele 760, Femi Bamisile 400, Kayode Ojo 767, Adedayo Adeyeye 691 and Bamidele Faparusi 376, Demola Popoola 239 and Oluwasola Afolabi 47.
Speaking with Journalists, the Cordinator of the group, Prince Tunde Jokotola expressed displeasure over the outcome of the elections.
He said the emergence of the former secretary is an imposition on the people of the state as majority are not pleased with it.
Jokotola added that Oyebanji, the alleged imposed candidate doesn’t have what it takes to win the general election slated for June 18 2022, stressing that Bamidele Opeyemi is the only candidate that can deliver Ekiti for APC.
He therefore urged the party to revisit the issue if they indeed want to win the Ekiti state governorship elections.
