Akande faults APC membership registration

The pioneer Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande , on Wednesday , described the decision of the Mai Mala Buni- led National Caretaker Committee to embark on a fresh membership registration as an aberration .
He also advised the committee to resist the temptation of falling for the sit -tight syndrome which he noted usually characterized most “ handpicked authorities in most underdeveloped countries of the world. ”
Akande said this while receiving in audience members of the Governor Abubakar Bello -led APC Membership Registration / Revalidation team at his country home in Ila , Oragun , in Osun State .
Akande said, “ No population census is repeated within less than a decade and voters are not re -registered at every election .
“ Within this context , I see the present APC membership registration within less than a decade after the original register as an indefensible aberration leading to certain ugly perceptions.
“ The first major perception is that APC , already having a well computerized register for an average 100 leaders of similar ideological orientation per each of the 120, 000 polling units across Nigeria , might be lacking comprehension and matrix of modern -day technology .
“ The second major perception is that APC leadership might be wasteful and inappreciative of the proper use of money in a kind of scanty economy in which Nigeria now finds itself .
“ These seeming ugly perceptions put into abeyance the applause of the national election successes that the original APC register enjoyed since its completion on 15 th February, 2014 and the over one billion Naira of 2014 ’s value that the original register cost when APC had no money of its own . ”
Crisis marred the exercise in Kwara State . A meeting of stakeholders held at the Banquet Hall, GRA , Ilorin , on Wednesday , ended abruptly when a disagreement between supporters of a faction loyal to the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and their counterparts loyal to the former APC State Chairman , Bashir Bolarinwa , degenerated into a free for all .
Members of the opposing groups threw chairs and other missiles at each other forcing organisers to abandon the venue .
Earlier , while revalidating his membership at his Idi Igba ward , in the Ilorin West local government area of the state , Governor Abdulrazaq said , “ There is no political party without opposing views or differences . It ’s part of democracy .
“ The important thing is to bury those views in the interest of our party and participate vigorously to extend the membership base of the party. It will be useful for us in the party ’s national convention and we should, therefore , make it a success .”
In Edo State, the State Chairman of the Registration Committee , Elder Omeni Sobotie , while briefing the press at the state party secretariat , said, “ This is the first time this kind of registration of party membership is taking place in the country .
“ The aim is to make APC a grassroot political party where the victory of any aspirant is guaranteed no matter the size of the electoral ward, he/ she is coming from .”
Nasarawa State Governor , Abdullahi Sule, sued for a peaceful conduct of the exercise in the state during a meeting with three groups of party loyalists from Keffi and Toto Local Government Areas , at the Government House , Lafia on Wednesday .