Ahead of the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the crisis rocking the party seems to have taken another dimension as protest and division have taken over the committee expected to conduct the exercise.
It was gathered that several names initially published by the convention committee have been removed on the order of the presidency, which Wednesday left some of the members disappointed in Abuja, during the inauguration of sub-committees by the Jigawa state governor, Abubakar Badaru.
Some of the protesters who said their names were initially on the published convention committee list were seen publicly protesting, even as they accused the presidency of replacing about 50 names from the original list.
Some of the names removed from the list were said to be members of the aggrieved New People Democratic Party (nPDP) in APC.
One of the protesting APC chieftains who pleaded not to be named, told newsmen that, “we were told that the wife of the President sent in about 50 names to be replaced from the original list.”
Other people who were ready to figth the accreditation sub-committee were APC staff members who said they were not carried along in the process leading to the national convention.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the inauguration, the convention committee chairman and governor of Jigawa state, Abubakar Badaru, confirmed to newsmen that some of his committee members suggested that the convention should be held on the 23rd of June.
“It was suggested today that we should have the convention on 23rd of June but we will have to discuss it with the National secretariat to confirm the date.”
Badaru also denied the media report that his committee was planning to spend about N6 billion on the forthcoming exercise, adding that “we are raising it among the party members and they have started donating.
“I’m very sure it very far less than that. Tomorrow, we are getting all the budgets from all the sub-committees but I can assure you that it far less. Knowing me and knowing what I stand for, you will know that it will be the cheapest convention ever.”
When asked whether he was worried about the recent parallel congresses witnessed in many state of the federation, the governor said: “I’m sure they will be resolved before the time of the convention. Most of those issues will find way to be resolved in due time.”
