Few days after announcing that political appointees will not participate at today’s National Convention, the All Progressives Congress, APC, says special concessions will be made for serving political appointees who previously held elective office to enable them vote.
Africa Update learnt that those who would enjoy this special concession include a former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; a former governor of Anambra State and Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, a former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola and Minister of Works and Housing; and a few others.
Speaking on the development, Governor Sule said, “Our delegates’ lists are statutory delegates. So if you have a former President as a political appointee, if you have a former Senator as a political appointee, these are already automatic delegates.
“Let’s not confuse the two just because being an appointee doesn’t necessarily take you out of being a delegate, because our delegates are classified clearly. Former Presidents from our party, former elected personalities, party officials and the rest are delegates.
“So if you are talking of the ones we have submitted now, we don’t have Commissioners, we don’t have Advisers, we don’t have all those unless somebody particularly who was a former this or former that. In that case, just being an appointee doesn’t completely exclude such a person from being a delegate.”
Africa Update had previously reported on Thursday that APC had barred political appointees from taking part in its national convention or primaries due to the controversy surrounding Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, which bars Political appointees from voting at party congresses.
A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, ruled last week that the section was null and void because it was at variance with the constitution, but the National Assembly had commenced action towards appealing the judgment.
