Political Bandits Against APC’s Membership Registration – PGF DG, Lukman

The Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has lambasted those against the registration of new members for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recalls that a group of party supporters under the aegis of Concerned APC members, has threatened to take legal action should the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, proceed with the registration.

Naija News reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday asked the Buni Committee to go ahead with the registration and revalidation exercise.

Reacting in a statement titled, “Campaign against Membership Registration in APC: A Smokescreen for Surrogate Leadership,” in Abuja, Salihu Lukman described those opposed to the planned membership registration as political bandits.

While accusing the groups of being desperate to install surrogate leaders, the PGD DG said it was dishonest to claim that the caretaker committee does not include membership registration.

He said, “In this age of banditry, it will appear that some of our so-called leaders are as skillful in politics as the criminal bandits ravaging our communities – towns and villages. We must appeal to these so-called leaders to come back to their senses. For anybody to claim our party’s membership, not even emerge as a leader, the legal standing of such a person must be beyond suspect.

“One will expect any leader of the party with any claim of being a progressive or even democratic politician to welcome the need to have membership registration/verification ahead of the APC National Convention.

“In fact, even after membership registration/verification, before we can satisfy that there are legal delegates for any National Convention, APC would require Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses.

“These Congresses need to hold ahead of the National Convention to affirm that the delegates to attend the National Convention have the authority of party members.”

He stated that the APC should instead be discussiing on how to conduct both the membership registration and congresses in ways that would assist in resolving the lingering leadership crisis rocking the party.