The ruling All Progressives Congress said the leadership of the party was still consulting with stakeholders before arriving at a new date for the meetings of the National Caucus and National Executive Committee, which were called off last year.

The crucial sessions of the two statutory organs of the party are expected to be chaired by President Bola Tiinubu and would also have Vice President Kashim Shettima and former President Muhammadu Buhari in attendance.

Also expected are past and present APC governors, former and serving Senate presidents, Speakers of the House of Representatives of the party, state party chairmen, the National Working Committee and other stakeholders.

Both the NEC and Caucus meetings would have been the inaugural gathering of past leaders and party bigwigs since Dr Abdullahi Ganduje became the National Chairman of the APC.

The two political sessions earlier scheduled for September 11 and 12 last year in Abuja, respectively, were, however, called off.

Although no reason was given for the indefinite suspension, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, assured party members that a new date would be announced later.

However, five months after, it was called off, concerns have been raised over when the ruling party plans to reschedule the NEC meeting.

In the last few days, news filtered in that the party might be considering a later date in February.

But the APC has maintained a sealed lip over the matter.

In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, explained that a new date would soon be announced.

When reminded that former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had also raised a similar concern on social media, Basiru was indifferent.

He said, “On El-Rufai’s observation on the calling on the NEC, he is particularly correct. But that does not mean that NEC is the only organ of the party. There are other functional organs that are working for the success of the party.

“As far as we are concerned, we have taken note of his observation on the NEC and we are making efforts to ensure that as soon as possible, the NEC and the National Caucus will be called.”

When quizzed on the rumoured February date being peddled around, the APC scribe told our correspondent that it was also a possibility.

The National Legal Adviser, Prof Abdulkareem Kana, also shared his sentiment.

According to him, the two crucial sessions will be called at the appropriate time.

“I know we are waiting for NEC, but I am not aware if a new date has been fixed. In any case, it is not a problem because we are not under any pressure to do so.

“Don’t worry. The NEC will be held at an appropriate time. We are just trying to ensure the timing is right to have a committee that will involve everybody, including the president, his deputy, the party chairman and others in government,” he stated.

The Deputy National Organising Secretary of the APC, Nze Chidi Duru, also told Sunday PUNCH that ‘No new date has been fixed. But I can assure you it is in the works.’


https://punchng.com/nec-apc-intensifies-consultation-shops-for-new-date/