APC Plans Inclusive Convention, Congresses As Tinubu Meets Leaders

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, February 5, met with key segments of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), even as the party announced plans to organise inclusive national convention and congresses, in line with its growth and expanding membership.
The meeting, which took place at the State House, Abuja, with the party’s national leadership, sub-national leaders and the APC caucus in the National Assembly, was described was to align preparations and ensure synergy among the various arms of government and the party structure.
The party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, said the engagement was to review its readiness for the forthcoming convention and congresses, adding: “It was just a brief meeting to review the preparations for the convention and congresses and synergy between all arms of government, so that we can be on one page.”
Yilwatda stated that the party leadership also assessed the prevailing political environment, with a resolve to ensure the process would be broad-based and inclusive, particularly in view of new members and governors joining the party, noting: “Same timetable, same planning activities, but just to study the environment and review our preparation as a party and ensure inclusivity.”
He added that APC was determined to carry all stakeholders along as it expands, saying: “Both at national and sub-national, I want to carry everybody along with the party. We have new members who have come in, new governors, new members, the party is expanding every day, we are growing beyond bounds.
“We want to ensure that in the course of this growth, nobody is left behind.”
The meeting was attended by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Abdurahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State; Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Julius Ihonvbere; Chief Whip of the House, Usman Bello Kumo; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and APC National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru.
The party had in late last month and early this month released its adjusted timetable for its various congresses and the national convention, with Ward Congresses fixed for February 18; local government congresses, February 20; state congresses, March 7; zonal congresses, March 21; and the national convention, between March 27 and 28, this year.