As stakeholders continue to protest the alleged exclusion of some members in the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms ahead of the March 27 National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a group of elders of the party from the South – South geo – political zone have cautioned the convention committee against taking steps that could lead to internal crisis and a regrettable implosion in the party, ahead of the 2027 General elections.Recall that some stakeholders of the party have alleged exclusion from the convention, accusing the Committee of denying them access to the expression of interest and nomination forms, despite meeting all convention requirements and clearance including the payment of the compulsory N5.1m for the forms.
One of the leading aspirants, Ambassador Fubara Dagogo, has threatened to seek legal action to stop the planned convention, while alleging that he has been shut out of the convention after fulfilling all the requirements to vie for the office of National Vice Chairman , South – South.
Dagogo, who is the Director General of the APC States Assembly Forum (ASAF) told journalists at the ruling party’s National Secretariat in Abuja last Thursday, that the office of APC National Organising Secretary refused to release his forms to him, despite obtaining a clearance from party’s finance department, upon the payment of N5.1m and other compulsory dues, as well as his renewal of party membership, as required to qualify him to contest for the zonal chairmanship position.
The action has however been greeted with criticisms to the APC, with stakeholders warning the ruling party to learn from the mistakes of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
As the South – South zonal convention is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25 in Asaba, Delta state, some elders from the zone have warned that the convention must be transparent, adding that all stakeholders must be carried along and no one should be excluded from the exercise.
The South – South APC elders in a statement jointy issued by Group Captain Sam Ewang (Rtd) former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief Mike Mbama Okiro (Rtd), Sen. Florence Ita Giwa, Chief Amb. Oji Ngofa and Dr Udengs Eradiri (fnse), urged the convention committee to maintain its openness and ensure that it conducts an exercise that will stand the APC out and teach the opposition political parties how to do things right.
While rejecting the reported exclusion of some stakeholders by refusing them access to nomination forms, the elders who acknowledged that National Working Committee (NWC) positions have been zoned and micro zoned to some states, insisted that all qualified aspirants from such states must be given the opportunity to vie for offices that are zoned to their states, insisting that there must no preferential treatment for any particular candidate.
The elders cautioned that the APC needs to take the opportunity of the National Convention to further prove to Nigerians that it is a political party that believes in inclusiveness and internal democracy, stressing that shutting out some aspirants in the convention could be counter productive for the ruling party.
Affirming that President Bola Tinubu has given the committee a free hand to deliver a hitch free National Convention. The South – South elders called on all stakeholders to play to the rules and abide by the constitution of the ruling party, insisting that the zonal convention should be seen as a gathering of family members with one purpose that should lay a solid foundation for the envisaged overwhelming victory of President Bola Tinubu and all APC candidates in the upcoming 2027 general elections, which they noted that only a united and inclusive exercise, using the opportunity of the National Convention could guarantee.
“We have followed with great concern, recent reports of exclusion and shutting out of stakeholders who have indicated interest to vie for elective offices in the upcoming National Convention of our great party. We call on the convention committee to be cautious in its actions leading to the convention. The APC, under President Bola Tinubu has maintained an enviable culture of inclusiveness, where every section of the country has been carried along and given opportunity.
“It is our hope that this commendable posture that has been exhibited by our president should be emulated by all officers working for our great party, especially at this critical period of our planned National Convention. This is the time for the APC to showcase experience, credibility and integrity, which has been lacking in the opposition political parties in the country. We must teach them how to get it right.
“It is however obvious that we at the APC can never showcase these great features and qualities by the regrettable reports emanating from the Convention Committee.
We therefore advise the Committee to avoid taking actions that could lead to comparing the APC with the failed opposition parties. Going into the convention, we advise that every stakeholder should be carried along, all aspirants must be given equal treatment provided they have fulfilled all party’s requirements to vie for the offices of their choice, there must be no preferential treatment to any particular candidate against the other, especially as the president has not adopted any candidate. Doing so could lead to a deep disappointment that may not be contained by our great party, with a few months to the 2027 general elections. The APC must remain united ahead of the upcoming elections, not even the National Convention will divide us,” the elders warned.
