APC Must Organise National Convention in December- APC Stalwart

 All Progressives Congress (APC ) stalwart  in Zamfara State, Senator Kabiru Marafa, has said the APC national caretaker committee chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, has a choice to either organise a national convention by December, or resign.

The Buni-led committee was inaugurated in June, 2020 and its core mandate was to reconciling aggrieved party members and to organise a national convention to elect a new set of leaders for the party within six months.

This followed the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee by the party’s National Executive Committee.

Speaking to journalists, in Abuja, on Sunday, Sen. Marafa advised the Yobe State governor not to stretch his luck.

He said, “Many of us are aware that your appointment is unconstitutional, because Section 17 (iv) of our party’s constitution is very clear about it.We only kept quiet because of the respect we have for Mr. President, and the belief that the party needs to open a new page.

“Be informed that any action you take outside your primary mandate of organising a convention that will usher in a new set of executives will be null, void and of no effect whatsoever. You have up to December, to do the needful or we chase you out.”

Meanwhile ,APC in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, who was responding to reports accusing the caretaker committee of surreptitiously seeking an extension of its six-month mandate, said the committee would not proceed into a convention with a divided house.

The statement read in part, “The Governor Mai Mala Buni-led All Progressives Congress Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee is focused on achieving and sustaining true and lasting unity, peace and reconciliation across party ranks and ahead of the planned national convention of the party.”

It added that it was important that the APC conducts its planned national convention to produce the party’s national leadership as a united house. Otherwise the main aim of constituting the Caretaker Committee , following the dissolution of the immediate-past National Working Committee, NWC, will be defeated.’’

The statement said the Governor Buni-led Caretaker Committee  has deployed a combination of true reconciliation, consultation and inclusiveness in achieving unity and cohesion in the party.

“To reposition the party to ensure good governance, Governor Buni proposed the recently-inaugurated tripartite Executive/Legislative/APC consultative committee which is ensuring synergy, good governance and accelerated implementation of the Next Level agenda.

“A peacemaker and stabilizing voice, Governor Buni is meeting all leaders, known party groups and interests in order to accommodate all interests. This has resulted in renewed commitment on the part of party members.

“Ahead of the planned APC National Convention and indeed the 2023 General Elections, stakeholders should continue to support the Committee  efforts to unite the party in order to make it formidable enough to consolidate on the APCs national governing status and landmark achievements.

‘’The APC must not go into a National Convention, and indeed a general election in crisis. We should take it one step at a time and ensure that the ongoing national reconciliation process being undertaken by the Committee  is sustained, successful and continue to yield results”, the party stated.

Nabena said it was not surprising that elected National Executive Committee (Non- National Working Committee) members at a recent meeting with the party’s national leadership, passed a vote of confidence on the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker Committee .