APC NATIONAL CONVENTION UPDATES – The Nation
Fears over consensus target failure
There were fears on Saturday that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may not have been able to fully realise its consensus targets as some of its aspirants were seen rigorously lobbying and campaigning at the Convention ground, Eagle Square, Abuja.
President Muhammadu Buhari had solicited party leaders and members to strive to achieve consensus for all positions in the party ahead of the convention.
He held meetings with various critical stakeholder groups within the party, including the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), founding fathers of the party, chairmanship aspirants, among others, in the days leading to the all-important convention.
Police, Civil Defence shield Amaechi from hoodlums
It took the intervention of a combined team of Policemen and Civil Defence operatives to protect Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi from armed hoodlums at the main entrance of the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention.
Amaechi was stranded for more than 30 minutes before the security officials assisted him into the venue.
Edo delegates boo, chase away Sen Obende
Edo State delegates have booed and chased Senator Domingo Obende from the designated stand for the state at the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They accused the lawmaker of anti-party activities.
Oshiomhole arrives at Eagle Square
Former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole arrives at the Eagle Square venue of the party’s National Convention.
His presence caused a resounding welcome by party members.
Clad in his usual brown khaki attire with a face cap to match, Oshiomhole walked around the venue acknowledging cheers from state delegates.
Edo delegates send away health minister from state’s stand
Edo State delegates have sent away Minister of Health, Dr. Osage Ehanire from the stand designated for the state at the Eagle Square, venue of the ongoing national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Nation reports that a shocked Ehanire left with his aides to the VIP stand.
Several injured as Police control crowd with teargas
Delegates and supporters have been teargassed as security operatives struggled to control entry into the venue of the ongoing All Progressives (APC) National Convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
Several persons sustained injuries in the ensuing stampede.
The two entrances into the Square, through the Office of the Head of Service axis as well as the Federal Secretariat car park axis, were jam-packed with hundreds of supporters and delegates that tried to make their way to the venue.
At the Head of Service axis, the crowd overpowered the policemen on guard and pushed the gate wide open and dozens of people, including those who were not accredited, poured in.
The police resorted to teargassing everyone before managing to close the gate and resume admitting only persons accredited despite the rowdiness.
Delegates file into arena
Accredited delegates have started filing into the arena.
Already accredited states with their delegates at their designated stands include Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi Adamawa, Gombe, Kano, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, Cross Rivers, Osun among other states.
Pickpocket arrested at convention venue
Security agents have arrested a middle-aged man for pickpocketting at the Eagle Square venue of the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention in Abuja.
The man, dressed in a brown flowing gown, was arrested while trying to pick the pocket of a delegate trying to gain access through a gate to the venue.
The Nation reports that supporters of aspirants for various positions are giving security officials a difficult time as reporters and delegates are finding it difficult to gain access.
Six chairmanship aspirants have written a letter of withdrawal from the race at today’s national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
A cover letter was also written jointly signed by all the aspirants.
The Nation learnt that the letters were later handed over to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Boss Mustapha at about 2 am for onward transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari by Sen. George Akume and Mohammed Etsu.
The aspirants are Sen. Tanko Al-Makura, Sen George Akume, Abudulaziz Yari, Sen. Mohammed Musa, Mohammed Saidu Etsu and Turaki Saliu Mustapha.
Convention: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Taraba delegates barred from voting
There are indications that some states will not be voting at today’s national convention of the All Progressives Congress holding in Abuja.
The States include Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Taraba.
The election of the state executive committees of the affected states are subject to litigation in the court, hence the party bar in the states.
The Nation however gathered that statutory delegates from the affected states will be allowed to vote, while delegates that emerged from the congresses held in the affected states will be exempted from voting.
Details later….
Party faithful search for accreditation cards
The National Secretariat of the APC is still a beehive of activities with party faithful besieging the place in search of their accreditation cards.
Tight security, vehicular movement restricted
Heavy security has been beefed up in and around Eagle Square, venue of the APC National convention.Vehicular movement has been restricted, while vehicles are being diverted almost one kilometre to the venue.
Buni in talks with state chairmen, Adamu
The National Chairman of the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni is said to be at a crucial meeting with state Chairmen and the Consensus candidate for the office of the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
The meeting is holding at the Yobe governor’s lodge in the Asokoro area of the FCT.
The agenda of the meeting is, however, not clear, but it is believed that they will likely discuss the future of the party after the convention.
Other members of the Caretaker Committee are not attending the meeting.
Sen Musa withdraws from APC chairmanship race, backs Adamu
Frontline National Chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Mohammed Sani Musa has withdrawn from the race, his spokesman, Nasir Mohammed, has confirmed.Sani Musa, representing Niger East Senatorial District at the Senate announced this decision after Friday’s aspirants’ meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the leader of the party, 24 hours before today’s convention in Abuja.He pledged to back Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the consensus candidate for the seat in the ongoing convention.
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7,584 delegates to vote their preferred candidates today.
