As the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to shift the date for the 2019 continues to elicit reactions, President Muhamamdu Buhari will on Monday meet with the National Executive Committee NEC of the All Progressive Congress APC to map out strategy for further development.
BusinessDay gathered that the meeting will also involve all members of the Board of Trustees of the APC in what is regarded as a gathering of the party’s think thank to fashion out an effective reaction to the development.
BusinessDay Villa sources revealed that top officials of the party had been meeting at various levels to map out further actions in response to several issues thrown up by the postponement, especially plans by the main opposition Coalition of United Political Parties CUPP to resume campaigns.
To this end, the meeting which is expected to be attended by President Muhammadu Buhari from 11.00 am, is expected to come up with resolutions on further actions ahead of the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections coming up on Saturday, 23rd of February, 2019, across the country.
Businessday also gathered that the meeting will review the cost of mobilizing its officials for the botched election and how to raise more money for the rescheduled election.
The APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole had lamented bitterly about the decision of the INEC officials to shift the election at the last minute which was said to have unsettled the party as the INEC decision caught them unawares.
Oshiomhole had noted that part from the inconveniences suffered by the political parties, the huge cost spent on mobilizing its members as well as the psychological trauma will be difficult to recompense.
Businessday also gathered that the party is not happy with information from the APC grassroots supporters as feelers and feedback from its members from the field show that the party may not have made much success of the election if it had held as scheduled last Saturday.
Members are attributing it to the backlash from the party primaries where a lot of strong party stalwarts abandoned the party for “greener pastures”
Some of the strong stalwarts who have managed to remain in the party are also said to be unhappy about the funding arrangements as many are said to be using their personal funds to run the party’s affairs, especially at the state level.
“ We are coming to Abuja to discuss theses issues and many others. We are just lucky that the election was postponed and l hope the6 will learn from the shortcomings so that we will not be disgraced at the polls, come next Saturday” said one of the party officials who preferred not to have his name in print.
