The All Progressives Congress has assured members and Nigerians that its forthcoming congresses and national convention will be transparent, credible, and reflective of internal democracy.

APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, expressed confidence that the upcoming processes would promote party unity and deepen grassroots involvement.

But the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ini Ememobong, alongside his counterpart in the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Oladipo Johnson, argued that the ward congresses and convention could heighten internal divisions and potentially spark a significant crisis within the ruling party.

In its updated timetable, the APC fixed February 18 for the ward congresses, while the national convention is slated to hold from March 27 to March 28.

Commenting on the state of readiness, the APC Director of Publicity said preparations were in full swing, noting that other political parties would take lessons from the exercise.

Ibrahim stated, “Preparations are in full swing. Our party, its leaders, and other stakeholders are determined to organise free, fair, credible, and peaceful processes that will once again showcase the beauty of democracy by ensuring outcomes that are acceptable to all.

“The ward congresses and the convention will reflect the progressive nature of the APC. We have done this successfully in the past and have demonstrated to Nigerians how organised and forward-looking we are in conducting rancour-free exercises. We will do so again; this will not be an exception.”

“Other political parties will have reasons to learn from the APC on how to organise ward congresses and conventions that are peaceful and well-coordinated. Rather than create division, these congresses and the convention will strengthen and enhance the unity of our party.”

In response, PDP’s Ememobong, in an interview with our correspondent, stated that the APC’s ward congresses and convention could mark the onset of internal turmoil within the party.

He stated, “It Is easy for a ruling party like the APC to pressure politicians into joining them under the guise of defection. As I have said before, many of these defections were driven by selfish interests. Now, the real test for the APC will be its ward congresses and convention.

“The party currently has many members who do not have a genuine commitment to it, and these processes will expose deep internal divisions. I believe the convention and ward congresses could mark the beginning of serious internal challenges for the APC challenges the party may not overcome.

“From that point, many politicians who were pressured into joining will seek alternative platforms. I foresee this because, in my view, the APC lacks strong internal organisation and functions mainly as a vehicle to win elections rather than a cohesive political institution.”

The NNPP also stated that balancing the many competing interests during the ward congresses and convention would pose a significant challenge for the APC.

Johnson stated, “Of course, the fewer your members are, the fewer interests you have to manage as a party, and the less complex those interests become.

“Over time, the APC has continued to accommodate all kinds of people by various means, including pressure and other tactics. Organising ward congresses and conventions will, therefore, pose a serious challenge for the party.

“Because of the numerous interests, the party will not be able to allocate key positions to satisfy all stakeholders, and as a result, it will face internal crises.” (Sunday PUNCH)

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