I’m not the party’s member, says Soludo
Ahead of its non-elective national convention holding April this year, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised a fresh Constitutional Review Panel to have a second look into its operational guidelines.
The national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the move was informed by some critical constitutional challenges facing the party since its formation and the subsequent rancour followed its electoral victory at the 2015 polls.
Inaugurating the panel headed by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire (SAN), Odigie-Oyegun specifically charged it to address three key issues namely the review of functions of the party’s Board of Trustees, (BoT), discipline/internal democracy and membership requirements. Other members include Governors Mohammed Abubakar (Bauvchi), Samuel Ortom (Benue), FCT Minister, Musa Mohammed Bello, Senate Whip, Prof. Sola Adeyeye, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, Representative Asabe Valida Bashir and Vice Chairman, North West of the APC, Inuwa Abdulkadir, to serve as the secretary.
On party discipline, the national chair said it was necessary to curb the activities of those he called “problem people” within the party whose activities have tended to portray them as above the party structure, noting that the committee had a duty to recommend how to speedily curb their activities.
In the meantime, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday dismissed speculations that he was contesting this year’s Anambra gubernatorial election on the platform of the party.
Soludo, who was reacting to publications in some national dailies that he and 12 other aspirants had indicated interest in the party’s ticket, stated that he was yet to identify with any political grouping
In the reports, the state chairman of the political grouping, Mr. Emeka Ibe, was quoted to have listed the other contenders to include Senator Andy Uba, the party’s National Auditor, Dr. George Moghalu, oil magnate, Ifeanyi Ubah, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife and the 2013 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Tony Nwoye among others.
He added that the aspirants would be subjected to the party’s primary and guidelines, even as he disclaimed the anointing of any candidate for the upcoming polls.