CONFUSION: 7 Days to Presidential Primaries, APC yet to Screen Aspirants, Set up Convention Committee
By Kabir Akintayo
Seven days to its much talked-about national convention where its presidential candidate will be elected, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to display lack of preparation for the event.
POLITICS DIGEST can authoritatively report that the ruling party is yet to screen its presidential aspirants, even as it has also not constituted a convention planning committee.
The party is also not forthcoming on any clear programme for next weekend’s event, despite the lifeline given it by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
After a meeting with the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), INEC had on Friday extended the deadline for the submission of party candidates from June 3 to June 9.
Following the INEC decision, APC postponed its Special Convention for Presidential Primary again from Sunday, 29th – Monday, 30th of May, 2022 to Monday, 6th – Wednesday, 8th of June, 2022.
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In an unexpected scenario, the Vice Chairman (North-west), Salihu Lukman, wrote the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, alleged that the screening of the presidential aspirants of the party was postponed indefinitely because Adamu claimed he was yet to consult with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The letter, copied to President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, former APC chairmen, Bisi Akande, Adams Oshiomhole, John Oyegun and also the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, faulted Adamu for using Buhari’s name as an excuse for failure.
Citing many relevant examples, Salihu accused Adamu of running a one man government, ranging from non implementation of the decisions of NWC, inability to screen presidential aspirants, poor management of the national secretariat, among others.
While President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, departed for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on a 3 days visit to participate in African Union Extra-ordinary Session of Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Adamu has been reportedly incapacitated, waiting for the arrival of Buhari before making effective decisions on party affairs.
While the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) screened it’s presidential aspirants weeks ago and on Saturday conducted a credible primary election that produced former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the APC keeps shifting the goalposts and is not sure of it’s direction.
Meanwhile, a call and text messages sent by POLITICS DIGEST to APC Publicity Secretary, Morka Felix for further clarifications were ignored.
