APC reveals convention hashtag, says party united as ever - Nexus News

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday revealed the official hashtag for its convention.

Revealing the hash-tag during a virtual news conference, Abdullahi Sule, the Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee of the convention, noted that APC was ready to host the biggest party convention in Africa.

The governor of Nasarawa State was represented by Chairperson of the New Media Sub-Committee, Mrs Mary Ikoku.

He noted that the hashtag would be used to give blow-by-blow details of development during the convention on social media, websites and applications, such as twitter.

According to him, the hashtag, #APCNationalConvention, is to declare the upcoming convention of ‘the largest party in Africa’, which is holding on March 26, today at International Conference Centre, Abuja.

“This media parley is to unveil to the media and the public the official hashtag of the convention and to reiterate that the party is united.

“It is also an avenue to tell the world that the party is ready to deliver on those mandates that got it elected into office by millions of Nigerians.

“We all know the functionality of social media in expanding and amplifying communication, and this is why we are launching the hash-tag to push home our message on the importance of the convention to the global online audience.

“The chosen hashtag is ‘#APCNationalConvention’ and we adopted this to solidify our narrative that we are united party men and women with one aim, which is to have one of the best party conventions ever seen in this country,” he said.

Consensus forces versus election forces

The forces vying for convention and election were held in a stalemate last night, with each side strongly seeking an edge.

An assistant of the President was not sure how soon the crisis might be addressed. President Muhammadu Buhari had recommended a consensus chairman. His rivals unwillingly stepped down after much pleading by some governors.

However, there is no extensive preparation for an elective convention. There was no sign of ballot paper yesterday for possible use today.

The long wait for unity list

The chairman of the Convention Publicity Committee, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, informed reporters yesterday that the Unity List was not immediately ready yesterday due to delay in resolving some important issues at the local level-states and geo-political zones.

While some of the zones had their list compiled yesterday, others were still debating. He informed reporters at the party secretariat around 12 noon yesterday.

No manifesto by the chosen

When party members from different states were asked if the chosen candidate for chairman ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu had revealed his plans for the party, all the people screened said they were not informed of his manifesto.

Eagle Square ready for convention

Although it could not be said that the party was fully ready as at 6pm yesterday, the Eagle Square venue selected for the convention was ready.

It wore a new look with beautiful banners flying in self-jubilation. A war of posters also ensued. Posters of candidates contesting for party offices competed for spaces as well as those of presidential aspirants.

A big billboard at the site bore the inscription ‘Fayemi for Nigeria.’ The posters of Tanko Al-Makura also hung on poles in the vicinity.

Uncertainty over number of delegates

No committee or subcommittee member was present to authoritatively speak about the number of delegates being expected at the convention.

A source said: “The party is pushing for voting by affirmation. Since there is no anticipation toward an elective convention, there is not going to be much of an accreditation hurdle.”

Day of clandestine meetings

A lot of secret meetings took place yesterday at different locations.

The president had met with the eight chairmanship contestants on Thursday. It was inconclusive.

An assistant of the president noted that the meeting was expected to resume yesterday. “The discussion continues until all issues are settled,” he said.

For five hours, APC governors were also locked in discussions yesterday.

An assistant of a governor said: “It is still tough o. There is confusion. The governors are still meeting. I think they will finally come to an agreement.”

Legacy leaders in important meeting

Besides, APC founding fathers, some of who appeared to have been sidelined, met to see how they could settle aggrieved governors who are divided over the micro-zoning of the chairmanship position on the one hand and the governors and the president over his choice for a particular aspirant.

Bumper time for hotels

Major hotels in the metropolis and environs of the federal capital were fully booked by last night, leaving many delegates deserted.

National Secretary: Not yet concluded

Party sources disclosed that the president had been contacting prominent stakeholders in the Southwest to replace Iyiola Omisore with Ife Oyedele.

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and his Ondo State counterpart Rotimi Akeredolu are insisting on the former Osun State deputy governor as national scribe.

This implies that Omisore may not return to the Senate in 2023.

Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola is disclosed to be rooting for Oyedele.

Already, Isaac Kekemeke from Ondo State has been selected for National Vice Chairman (Southwest). Two important party positions cannot be zoned to a single state.

Sympathy for disadvantaged states

The president and the National Caretaker Committee are maintaining that states that have not produced national party officers before should be assigned offices that are zoned to their regions.

In other words, micro-zoning should take note of complaints about exclusion and past issues of injustice.