The governing party, the All Progressives Congress APC says there is no crisis of any form in the party. Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha made this known to State House Correspondents after the governors met again with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday morning at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Okorocha on his part insisted that despite the developments of the last few days, there is no crisis in the party. He urged those peddling rumour of crisis in the party to desist.
“The issue was that some people who believe that we did not have enough time to organise a party congress and run election. Some people felt that it was a good idea but the most important thing is that, if we do that, we will be contravening both our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That is the major issue that we have that they call crisis. We do not have virus.
“This morning, we met with Mr. President to fine-tune issues, one regarding the congress and we have resolved that the congresses at all levels and the Chairman of the elongation committee, is also fine-tuning the arrangement in the same line. To this effect, the convention committee will be set out, it will be announced,” he said.
Okorocha also explained that the decision to hold congress and convention did not mean that those who have so far held those positions have done badly. He said the decision also did not mean that the outgoing officials cannot re-contest.
“We are simply saying that their tenure has ended and those who wish to re-contest can re-contest and can be elected into our party structure. So we are all one as family and we are set to go for 2019 elections in victory,” he added.
Lalong also corroborated his colleagues’ position that there is no crisis in the party.
He confirmed that he would be submitting the report of the technical committee he heads to the party leadership on Wednesday. Also present at the briefing were the Governors of Plateau, Simon Lalong, Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje and Ogun Ibikunle Amosun. Buhari had at the party’s NEC meeting of March 27 in Abuja, said NWC’s tenure extension decided at NEC’s meeting on February 27 was illegal and unconstitutional.
The NEC had extended the tenure of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC and other executive committees of the party across all levels in the country by one year, starting from June.
The President had explained that the decision was already causing acrimony within the party as some of its members who were not comfortable with the matter had taken it to court.
