There are indications that the Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured another extension until such a time that it can conduct the party’s National Convention.
The party is also set to release the formal timetable for the Congresses and the National Convention, which may hold in December.
It was gathered that the Caretaker Committee which was inaugurated in June 25, 2020 for six months after the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee (NWC) had its tenure extended for another six months in December, 2020 by an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Nation learnt that the decision for another extension was reached on Friday morning after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and the Caretaker Committee members.
A member of the CECPC who spoke with The Nation in confidence said that the Committee has been given right to stay in office until it is able to conduct the National Convention, whose date is yet to be agreed upon.
“It is true that after wide consultations with some stakeholders and at the end of the Caretaker Committee meeting on Wednesday, we met with Mr. President Friday morning and he has approved our time table for the Congresses and equally granted the Caretaker Committee to stay until the National Convention is conducted.”
When asked if the extension was for another six month, our source quipped, “there is no time line. The Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) will still be in office until the National Convention is conducted and the date will soon be announced.
“All I can tell you is that, we shall release the timetable for the ward to zonal congresses of the party before the close of the day,” our source disclosed.
The Caretaker Committee on Wednesday in a meeting reviewed its activities and considered inputs from the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) on the time table for the Congresses.
It was gathered that the Committee after consultations with other stakeholders met with the President in the Villa on Friday and were able to secure another extension to enable it conduct the Congresses and the National Convention.
By the new arrangement, Caretaker Committees at other levels of the party will be replaced gradually as the Congresses from the ward level to the zonal level hold.
The CECPC had earlier drawn the time table but held on to it, in order to secure inputs from other stakeholders such as the President, Vice President, APC Governors and other stakeholders.
It was gathered that the Caretaker Committee will later today (Friday) release details of the Congresses.
