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Kalu writes APC leadership to clear confusion before convention to avoid party collapse
The Chief Whip of the Nigeria Senate and former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has allayed fears of the collapse of the ruling All Progressives Congress, if the party went ahead to conduct its convention slated for February next, 2022.
In a letter he wrote on Thursday to President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Chairman of APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, and other party leaders, Kalu, cried out saying, the APC faces imminent collapse with the present confusion and crisis rocking the party, if there were not first addressed.
As a way out of the logjam, he suggested that the presidential primary and election of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party should hold simultaneous at the convention.
On the letter titled: “Urgent appeal for postponement of APC National Convention”, he cautioned that holding the convention in February without resolving pockets of disagreements that emanated from the Congresses of the party may lead to implosion.
Part of the letter read: “It is with a sense of commitment and unflinching loyalty to our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that I write to you, the content of this letter regarding the National Convention of our party slated for February, 2022.”
The ex-governor however, commended Mai Mala Buni for what he described as “his sterling quality leadership” of the party that attracted mass defections across all geopolitical zones and in particular, his peaceful disposition and sense of commitment to the growth of APC.
The letter continued: “However, it is pertinent to note that, some states are embroiled in crisis with multiple factions.
“These factions are not new to our politics, especially since the return of democracy in 1999.
“However, it is important to put into consideration, the consequences of these factions during and after elections.
“It is important to remind you that the ignoble creation of factions in our party in Rivers and Zamfara states cost the party the governorship elections in those states.
“APC also failed to field candidates in some senatorial districts in Cross River State, thereby helping the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to victory.
“Similarly, the creation of factions denied the party victory in so many states because the crisis were never settled. As a peaceful and tactful leader, I am sure you wouldn’t allow such scenario to reoccur.
“It is on this note that I write to appeal to your office and members of the Convention Extraordinary Planning Committee to reconsider the slated date for the 2022 National Convention.”