There is noticeable disquiet in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over the shifting of the party’s convention, which was initially scheduled to hold on February 26.
The situation, it is said, has split the rank of ‘progressive’ governors into the pro-and-anti convention. While some governors are opposed to the postponing of the convention, others working in cahoots with the Caretaker Committee/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, are pushing for a long shift.
TheCornet gathered that the some of the governors and other party stakeholders are unhappy the CECPC, led by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, have not shown any seriousness in conducting the convention.
“All is not well among APC governors over the convention because the Caretaker Committee is unwilling to stick to the agreed February 26 timeline. The committee wants to have its cake and eat it,” said an unnamed governor, in a report by TheNation.
“Apart from funding, the Caretaker Committee has come up with an excuse that some off-season elections will hold on the convention date. It is contemplating a shift to March 12.
“Most governors are, however, insisting on February 26 having got wind of a plot to drag the convention till July or August when presidential and other primaries will be conducted. The CECPC members wanted a two-in-one convention.
“There are fears that the shift in convention date was being designed to either favour some members of the CECPC or their cronies for elective offices, including presidential and governorship seats in 2023.
Based on the current situation the party has found itself, a meeting among governors within its fold has been scheduled to hold on Monday.
The alleged source has called the meeting “a make or mar meeting to break the jinx on this convention”.
“We will decide either on going ahead with the convention or a slight postponement which may be the last of such.
“We heard rumours of a new convention date of March 12 but the CECPC has not made recommendations to the PGF. Governors are being turned into ball boys.
It is gathered that some governors might boycott the Monday meeting to avoid clashing with the caretaker committee chairman, Mai Mala Buni.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari is believed to align himself with a shifting of the party’s national convention.
