The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled for next week the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms for elective positions which was originally fixed for today.
The leadership of the party has also sent all the six directors at the APC National Secretariat, on compulsory leave.
As the party rev up arrangements for their primaries which must be concluded by 3rd June , the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked them to submit their membership registers to enable it monitor the primaries at all levels.
It was gathered that the rescheduling of the sale of forms was informed by the inability of the contractor handling the printing of the forms to deliver on time,
At the close of work yesterday, the APC Directorate of Organisation was yet to take delivery of the forms.
It was also gathered that the party was yet to fine-tune the guidelines for the sale of the forms and the primaries.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) on Wednesday approved the sale of nomination forms to commence on Saturday, April 23.
A source in the party who confirmed the development on condition of anonymity said the party was yet to fix a new date for the commencement of the sale of forms.
The NWC is expected to determine the new date on Monday.
The source said: “The postponement became necessary following the inability of the contractor to deliver the forms. As we speak now (Friday evening), the printer is yet to deliver the forms. “We hope the exercise will commence next week as the contractor is expected to deliver by the weekend.”
The Nation also gathered that the six directors at the National Secretariat were asked to proceed on compulsory leave.
Also affected by the directive is the head of the legal department of the party.
The APC National Secretary, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, in an April 21, 2022 letter, directed the affected persons to hand over the affairs of their departments to the most senior person.
The decision followed the recommendation of the Transition Committee set up by Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC as part of the efforts to re-organise the APC National Secretariat.
Adamu had dropped hint of the impending reorganisation when he received his certificate of returns from the Electoral Committee of the March 26 National Convention of the party.
INEC directs parties to submit membership register 30 days before primaries
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed all registered political parties to submit copies of their membership register to the commission in compliance with the new Electoral Act 2022, before their primary elections.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the directive at the second regular quarterly meeting of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Thursday.
Yakubu said that the new Electoral Act made it mandatory for political parties to submit their registered members to the commission 30 days before their primaries.
Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2022, according to him, requires each party to maintain a membership register in hard and soft copy and to make such register available to the Commission not later than 30 days before the date fixed for primaries, congresses and conventions.
“So far, only one political party has complied. It is a mandatory requirement of the law and all parties are required to comply,” he said.
“Doing otherwise is like going into an election without the register of voters. There can be no credible primary or general election without a credible register of voters.”
The INEC chairman also advised the RECs to thoroughly study the new Electoral Act, saying a credible election is anchored on the law.
