By Sodiq Omolaoye and Adamu Abuh, Abuja28 October 2021   |   3:21 am

APC group opposes move to instal Al-Makura as chairman

Ahead of the October 30 and 31 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) has threatened to sue the party for alleged move to sideline women in the distribution of party offices.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, in Abuja, the President of WIPF, Ebere Ifendu, alleged that the party was trying to scheme out women during the convention despite 35 per cent affirmative action in its constitution.

According to her, notwithstanding the constitutional provisions and guiding rules for congresses and the national convention, the party proceeded to endorse, through consensus, several positions, none of which was given to a woman.

She noted that in reaction to this decision, women in the party rose to support former Minister of Women Affairs, Inna Ciroma, who is contesting the position of Deputy National Chairman (North) by purchasing her form.

Ifendu said the forum was shocked over alleged negation by the party of its many promises, particularly the seemingly but wilful denial of the provisions of its Constitution (as amended in 2017).

She called on parties in the country to note that women had done a lot of advocacy starting from the grassroots, and at such would take a decision against any party that would not respect them.

“We are going to use PDP as an example and others would know that it is no longer business-as-usual for any party to work against Nigerian women,” she added.

MEANWHILE, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Unity Forum has warned against alleged move by the top echelon of the party to instal former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura as chairman.

The former governor, who was of the defunct Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), is highly favoured to clinch the exalted seat ahead of his rivals.null

National coordinator of the forum, Phillip Ekpeyong, in a statement, claimed that emergence of Al-Makura as national chairman of the party would deepen the crisis rocking the party across the country.

The group particularly warned that the party stood the risk of losing Nasarawa to any of the opposition parties, if Sen. Al-Makura emerges national chairman of the party.

It claimed that a “frosty relationship already exists” between Governor Abdullahi Sule, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and Al-Makura over the development.

Likening the conflict to that of Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, the group noted: “The ground is already prepared for a political battle; it will be watered by Al-Makura’s chairmanship. The APC must do everything to avoid losing the state to the PDP, which is desperate for power in 2023.”