The ongoing National Convention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka, capital of Anambra State, South-East Nigeria, has the blessing of the country’s electoral umpire, the National Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), News Express can report this morning.

In addition to its written approval, INEC also sent six representatives to the convention holding at the Women and Children Development Centre, Awka – the same venue which hosted the Anambra State Congress of the party on Saturday.

The conevtion was not heralded by much advance publicity, leading to speculations in some quarters that it might not have received INEC’s green light. News Express, however, learnt that the lack of publicity blitz was a strategic move by the organisers to prevent the probable sabotaging of the event by some estranged former APGA chieftains.

A new set of national officers are expected to be elected at the convention to replace the interim executive led by Chief Maxi Okwu.

As exclusively reported earlier by News Express, delegates started arriving around 10 O’clock last night while the convention started around one this morning following the conclusion of the accreditation of delegates.

The convention is being attended by delegates from various parts of Nigeria, among them Okwu, host Governor Peter Obi, serving state and national legislators as well as former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, among others.

Imo State Gvernor Rochas Okorocha, whose faction has joined the emergent mega party, All Progressives Congress (APC), and APGA’s estranged immediate past National Chairman Victor Umeh are, however, nowhere near the convention venue.

•Photo: INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega.