Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to postpone the proposed February national convention of the party and hold it simultaneously with the presidential primaries ahead of the 2023 general elections.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni, and obtained by our correspondent, Kalu said the party would implode if it goes ahead with the February convention without resolving the contentious issues resulting from the recently conducted congresses.
He explained that there were factions in some state chapters of the party, adding that it was important to consider the consequences of the factions before and after the convention.
In the letter titled, “Urgent appeal for postponement of APC national convention”, the former presidential aspirant said organising the convention in February will spell doom for the party.
Part of the letter reads: “It is with a sense of commitment and unflinching loyalty to our great party, the APC, that I write to you the content of this letter regarding the national convention of our party slated for February 2022.
“However, it is pertinent to note that some states are embroiled in crises with multiple factions.
“These factions are not new to our politics, especially since the return of democracy in 1999.
“However, it is important to put into consideration, the consequences of these factions during and after elections.
“It is important to remind you that the ignoble creation of factions in our party in Rivers and Zamfara states cost the party the governorship elections in those states.
“APC also failed to field candidates in some senatorial districts in Cross River State, thereby helping the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to victory.
“Similarly, the creation of factions denied the party victory in so many states because the crises were never settled. As a peaceful and tactful leader, I am sure you wouldn’t allow such a scenario to reoccur.
“The logical corollary of the foregoing pronouncements of the courts is that having too many cases without settling them amicably, the APC may be embarking upon a collision course which may lead the party to implosion.
“It is important to first postpone the convention with all peace and reconciliation machinery fully put in place.
“The issue of zoning should be properly handled with even representation across the six geopolitical zones.
“In conclusion, I am suggesting for a simultaneous event of having the presidential primary and election of National Working Committee (NWC) members on the same day and venue to avoid rancour and litigations,” Kalu said.
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