The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its stakeholders have agreed to hold the party’s national convention in February, 2022.
The national caretaker committee chairman of the APC and governor of Yobe State, Mr. Mala Buni, disclosed this to journalists yesterday after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House.
The meeting was also attended by the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and governor of Kebbi State, Mr. Mr. Atiku Bagudu and his Jigawa State counterpart, Mr. Abubakar Badaru.
Buni also stated that the president had approved February 2022 time for the conduct of the national convention adding that the approved month was suggested by the forum in a meeting held last Sunday, November 21.
However, he said the party was yet to fix the exact date for the convention but would do so after wide consultation with other stakeholders.
The caretaker chairman also used the opportunity to disclaim the speculation of planning the elongation of his tenure.
“Am I a jobless person who is always trying to extend his tenure; to do what? I have my primary responsibility as a governor to go back to my state and carry out my primary responsibility.
“What I am here to do is ad-hoc and of course to reposition the party and that is exactly what we have been able to achieve,” he said.
Also speaking, Bagudu, explained that the governors’ decision was informed by the need to complete outstanding congresses in four states
“Part of the inputs we got yesterday was that we still have four states which are in the process of completing their congresses like Anambra; understandably because of the recent gubernatorial election, Zamfara and two others, because of logistic challenge. And then, Christmas is around the corner and early January we will be very busy with Ekiti.
“So, the governors, based on all these, suggested the party and the president should graciously consider February and the president is favourably disposed to the suggestion,” Bagudu said.
The party is expected to elect its new national leaders at the convention. The leaders will guide the party into the 2023 general election.
