The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the approved schedule of activities and guidelines for the conduct of the party’s nationwide ward congresses scheduled for Saturday July 31, 2021.
The party has also granted waivers to new members and returning executives to contest.
According to the notice released Sunday in Abuja by the National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), John James Akpanudoedehe, purchase of nomination forms for Ward, Local Government/Area Councils and State Congresses will take place from 19th July to 28th August, 2021.
Akpanudoedehe said screening of aspirants for the Ward party positions is scheduled for July 29th to 30th July, 2021, Ward congresses will hold 31st July, 2021 while appeals arising from Ward congresses will hold August 2nd to 7th August, 2021.
The notice reads in parts: “In line with Article 11:A sub-section (i-xiii) and article 16(i) of the Party’s Constitution (as Amended), the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be organising its congresses across the 36 states and FCT to elect its Wards, Local Governments and States Officials. Only Wards and Local Government Areas stipulated in Sections 156 of the Electoral Act and in part I&II of the First Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as Amended) are recongised.
“The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the Party, in a bid to ensure open, credible and fair congresses that reflect the sanctity of internal democracy in the Party, issues a guiding regulation for the nationwide congresses of the Party. It is binding on all persons coordinating and participating in all Congresses.
“The National Executive Ccommittee (NEC) has granted waivers to new Members ( those who applied for such ) and also to all Officers at Ward, Local Government and State levels in line with the provision of Article 13 (4) xv, provided that no officer elected in this exercise shall serve in the same capacity beyond the maximum term prescribed in Article 17 I & ii of the APC Constitution (as Amended) a member who started or continued with litigation against the Party after the directives of NEC is not eligible to vote or be voted for in the respective congresses.
The statement added that “without prejudice to these guidelines, all aspirants with valid court Judgement(s) with respect to previous forms purchase are eligible to participate in the exercise.
“All persons vying for the position of youth leader must be persons aged between 18-35years.”