Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma has said the party was not afraid of recent meetings by leading opposition parties and their chieftains ahead of next general elections.
Uzodimma made the remarks on Wednesday at the party national secretariat in Abuja where the APC National Working Committee signed an agreement with a firm, Tunmef Global Limited, for the commencement of digital membership registration exercise, aimed at having a comprehensive and up-to-date database of its members.
Findings revealed that certain chieftains of the predominant opposition political parties have been involved in coalition talks ahead of the 2007 general elections.
On Monday, former Vice-president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar led Lyel Imoke and Aminu Tambuwal, former Cross Rivers and Sokoto State governors respectively to a closer door meeting at Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. Neither Obasanjo nor Atiku was forthcoming on the agenda of the meeting or what was discussed behind closed doors.
Former Kano State governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso equally met with former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola in what was perceived as a discussion towards the 2027 general election.
Uzodimma, however, declared that the ruling party was not bothered, submitting that Nigerians would decide the fate of the ruling party at the next polls.
He said: “We are not afraid of what the opposition will say.
“Our duty is to organize our party to be respected all over the world. We are expecting elections, and APC is not a party built on a platform that expects no contest. “There is no democracy anywhere in the world without contest. Nigerians will decide.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving his endorsement to the initiative to digitalise the party membership register.
He said: “We are always making history as a party.”
“I want to thank Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for approving that we go digital. This program was conceived a long time ago but didn’t see the light of day until now.”
He expressed confidence that the exercise would provide the ruling party, with accurate and scientific data, which it could leverage for planning and litigation purposes. “Without documentation of this type, we are just beating about the bush.
“But with this exercise, we are sure of having scientific data which we can always use. During litigation, sometimes you look for a membership list and get a controversial one, which complicates your case in court. With e-registration, we can easily retrieve our data as it is.”
He however appealed to the governors for their buy-in to ensure seamless success of the project within the stipulated timeframe.
“The implementation of this project is solely on your back as governors and state chairmen.
“I’m happy you are here to see the details and sign the agreement. You are expected to give full cooperation so that we can have our complete data.”
Credit: Nigerian Tribune