There is anxiety in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over an alleged plot to hold presidential, governorship and other primaries before the national convention of the party.
The party’s Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) is yet to fix a date or set up a committee for the convention although President Muhammadu Buhari last month advised the Caretaker Committee to consider February for the convention.
But the Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman, has warned the CECPC that further delay in holding the party’s national convention is not in the best interest of the APC.
According to investigation, some forces are opposed to the conduct of the National Convention before the primaries for the 2023 polls.
Those behind this new game felt it is better to hold all party leaders and members “hostage and be loyal” than to leave APC disunited after the National Convention.
It was gathered that shifting the convention till after the primaries may prevent defection of some bigwigs from the party.
It was gathered that as part of the plot, the forces will try to prevail on the Caretaker Committee to continue to shift the convention date when party members would have no choice than to opt for primaries than the convention.
It was gathered that the kite flown by a former Governor of Abia State, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, was a tip of the looming plot.
But it was not immediately clear if the proponents of the new game will be able to secure the support of President Muhammadu Buhari.
A former governor however said Buhari will “surely play a key role in the choice of a new chairman and the presidential candidate of the party.”
A top source said: “In spite of the directive of the President, the National Convention of APC is shaky. There is no concrete plan in place for it.
“This poor planning was said to be informed by a fresh plot by some forces pushing for the conduct of primaries before the National Convention.
“These forces claimed that a new National Working Committee of APC should not just be put in place only for primaries without requisite experience. They said the emergence of new party officers after the primaries will put APC structure in solid form.
“I think these forces do not want party executives who will be selling tickets to 2023 aspirants instead of managing the party.
“Another angle to it is that by delaying the National Convention for primaries, the Caretaker Committee will be able to secure the loyalty and buy-in of all leaders and members. It is like holding everyone hostage to work for the party.
“With primaries coming ahead of the convention, it will be difficult for APC to experience defections.
“The calculation of those pushing for primaries before convention was that the primaries may hold between June and September.”
Some APC leaders had warned against any plot capable of making the party to lose in 2023.
