A group under the auspices of APC progressives for Umaru Tanko Almakua 2021 has advised the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to entrench internal democracy and work to keep the party beyond 2023.
Almakura is currently the Senator representing Nasarawa south in the red chambers and the immediate past governor of Nasarawa state.
This is even as they drummed up support for the election of Umaru Tanko Almakua as the National Chairman of the party during its next month convention.
The group in a press conference in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Capital, by its Chief convener, Hon. Makpa malla, the group said the party can only receive its acceptability if the leadership of the ruling party would deepen internal democracy, enshrine inclusiveness in the party chairmanship selection.
According to the group whose membership cut across the country, “zoning the Chairmanship of the party to the North Central and given consideration to CPC and the candidature of senator Umaru Tanko Almakua will widen the party’s acceptability beyond 2023.
“We have no doubt that the APC would be stronger, more rejuvenated, successful at elections if internal democracy is entrenched, youths are involved in critical party affairs, inclusive mechanisms are applied especially with the emergence of Senator Umaru Tanko Almakua as its National Chairman,” malla declared.
While appealing to the leadership of the ruling party to be in total agreement that CPC remained the only party to benefit from the leadership slot of the now APC, the group noted that politics is about give and take.
“We passionately and solemnly appeal to APC to be in agreement with the earlier position expressed by our dear Governor, Abdullahi Sule that APC should be kind and fair to the CPC Bloc and pick it’s National Chairman from the erstwhile CPC because all political parties that started the merger talks culminating into the APC, CAN and ANPP had all tested twice the Chairmanship of the party”.
Other speakers were unanimous in their submissions while delivering their good will messages that APC required a chairman that would correct the wrong, enshrined justice, equity, fair play that bedeviled the party in the past.
According to them, “APC as a party must ensure equitable distribution, representation in its scheme of political spheres if the party must remain relevant beyond 2023.”