2023: Crisis Rocks APC As Officials Allegedly Tamper With Delegates’ List

• There is a growing concern among stakeholders in the APC over the list of delegates expected to participate in its presidential primary
• The claim by some of the stalwarts is that the list submitted for the conduct of the convention was suspect, due to a number of factors. 
• Already, there is tension over the list of delegates from the various state chapters of the party across the country

FCT, Abuja - A report by the Nigerian Tribune newspaper indicates that the delegates list of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have been tampered with.

Aggrieved party officials say delegates list circulated contained the names of some APC members that left out of their volition or ceased being members due to circumstances beyond their control, including death. 

Read also

2023: We'll not allow Jonathan to hijack our party, says Bayelsa APC chieftain

Some party sources said the planned election of delegates coming up about two weeks might not hold in some states where there is little or no disputes over the list of delegates. 

There was hoopla over the list of delegates from the Oyo State chapter of the party, which necessitated the intervention of the national body with the aim of harmonising the document.

A similar issue is being witnessed in APC chapters in Benue, Plateau, Ogun, Rivers, Imo, Zamfara, Lagos, and Kano. 

Another complaint is that the list was literally tinkered with by those that compiled it before it was submitted to the then Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee with the names of some categories of party members that were not qualified as delegates. 

For instance, some party leaders said they were amazed when they found ‘delegates’ who fell under such category at the Eagle Square, the venue of the March 26 convention with tags to gain entry. 

Read also

JUST IN: APC picks consensus guber candidate in prominent Nigerian state

There were claims that some of them colluded with officials at the state level to smuggle their names into the list. 

According to sources, the development reportedly resulted in a corrupted list of delegates in some states, while in others, some qualified delegates were technically disenfranchised.

It was also alleged that a number of party members who left the party more than a year ago still had their names in the list of delegates used for the last convention. 

A party source alleged:

“During accreditation, personal identification card was required, but with huge cash, those saddled with the accreditation will ordinarily surrender the delegate tags to whoever pays higher.”

2023: APC group holds rally in Abuja, calls for transparent presidential primary

Recall that the APC Youth Development and Solidarity Forum recently tasked the party’s new leadership to consolidate on its rancour-free national convention to conduct a free and fair presidential primary.

Read also

Buhari’s minister speaks on plans to raise N100m for APC presidential nomination form

To stand a chance at next year’s general elections, the group said the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led executives must ensure that the party parades its most popular aspirant as a presidential candidate.

The forum made this known at a one-day rally in Abuja on Thursday, April 14 to congratulate Senator Adamu and his team.

2023: Operators of private jets charter experience boom ahead of polls

In a related development, due to political activities across the country, private jet charter businesses in Nigeria is currently experiencing a boom.

With the 2023 general elections coming on stream and preparations for election into states and national offices on top gear, the political class has started making use of the aviation sub-sector again.

Since normal scheduled flights may not fit into their itineraries, politicians now resort to private jet charters to move across the country as it enables them to fulfill strict schedules and often complete multiple meetings in different cities and countries.

Source: Legit.ng