From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
The All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, announced the extension of its membership registration and revalidation exercise by three weeks.
The exercise, which commenced in late January and originally scheduled to end on March 8, will now end on March 31.
This development was contained in a statement released by the Interim National Secretary, John Udoedehe.
Udoedehe stated that the extension occured due to shortage of registration materials across the country.
The party interim National Secretary, John Udoedehe, in a statement, said the reason for the additional three weeks was to make up for the shortage of registration materials sent across the 36 states and to allow the accommodation of all prospective members.
Moreover, the party expressed gratitude to Governor Yahya Bello of Kogi State, his Niger State counterpart, Sani Bello and other top officials who had been at the forefront of the exercise since it commenced January, 25.
Udoedehe statement reads, “The feedback across the states have been overwhelming and beyond projected success level; with a massive turnout of intending registrants beyond the expectation of the party,”
“This development is responsible for the shortage of registration materials recorded in many states across the country and thereby warranting an extension of the exercise to give every interested Nigerian the opportunity to officially identify with the ruling party, the APC.”
It said, “On behalf of the National Chairman Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) His Excellency, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, I wish to use this opportunity to appreciate the good works of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state led Youth, Women Mobilisation and Persons with Disabilities’ Sensitisation Committee, The National Registration, Revalidation Committee led by Governor Sani Bello of Niger State, the states steering committees for the exercise and all party officials who have been both directly and indirectly involved in the exercise from the outset.”
However, beyond the discordant tunes trailing the exercise, APC has seen top-notch politicians defected to its party across geo-political zones in the country.
Chief among the new entrants are- Sen.Iyiola Omisore (Former Deputy Governor to H. E Bisi Akande), Ogun State former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.
Umahi had earlier defected but formally registered as a member in the ongoing revalidation exercise.
Recall The New Diplomat earlier reported the commencement of the APC revalidation excerise in January.
