APC Governors Forum DG had earlier argued that the party’s caretaker committee was not interested in holding a convention in February
Salihu Lukman, director-general of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), has resigned from his position.
His resignation is coming on the heels of the controversy surrounding the planned convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Some of the governors of the ruling party had called for his resignation during a meeting at the federal capital territory (FCT) on Sunday night.
After the meeting, Atiku Bagudu, Jigawa governor, told reporters that the party’s convention would be held in February.
Bagudu said the national caretaker committee of the party led by Mai Mala Buni, Yobe governor, is the appropriate organ to announce the date for the convention.
“We are one group of stakeholders in the party and our party respects institutions,” he said.
“The appropriate organ of the party that will announce a date for the national convention is the CECPC.
“We discussed our upcoming convention which you may recall I had cause to address the press after we visited President Buhari in November 2021 where the president and the party agreed that the convention would take place in February.”
The APC Governors Forum DG argued a few days ago, that the Buni-led panel was not prepared to hold the party’s national convention in February.
He had said: “Shortly following the news of the alleged postponement(of the APC national convention), the Secretary of the CECPC, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe issued a statement of rebuttal, calling on the general public to ‘completely disregard fake news on the reported suspension of the planned National Convention’.
“The statement further informed the public that the CECPC ‘is already embarking on consultations with party stakeholders to prepare the ground for a rancour-free National Convention.’ Sadly, the statement, like previous ones from the CECPC didn’t announce any date and venue for the National Convention. Very disappointingly, the statement said ‘sub-committee on budgeting and other substructures will be set up in due course.’
“This is a slap on the faces of Nigerians and an insult on party members. How can a statement from ‘a focus-driven, process-oriented political party’, make such a scandalous statement allegedly assuring that a Convention is scheduled to hold in February without indicating the date and venue for the Convention? If subcommittees, whether for budget or anything are to be set up, to perhaps mobilise funds for the Convention, why are they not set up with just about two weeks to the end of January?” he queried.