All Progressives Congress Interim National Executive Committee on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, met in Abuja, Nigeria and set up a committee, headed by former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari to build a structure for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Chairman of the party’s Interim National Executive Committee, Chief Bisi Akande stated that APC was ready to draw members from all groups, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that even President Goodluck Jonathan was free to join APC whenever he is fed up with the crisis-ridden PDP.

Chief Akande observed that Nigeria was politically heading towards a two-party system. “Our major preoccupation is to set up the structure of our party – the All Progressives Congress.
“It is after that, maybe in November or December when we hold our national convention where our national executives will be elected. There is no idea about who becomes president or who becomes a governor. But the only exemption is Anambra State where the committee is already working on that.” “We are going to register our members in Anambra State, we are going to conduct congresses and we are going to elect a candidate that will contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. I think these are the very few things I have to tell you that we did at today’s meeting,” he continued.

Chief Akande indicated that several committees were set up to advise the party on how to go about the elections in some states, such as Anambra and Delta as well as some local government elections in Kwara, Anambra, Cross River, Enugu and other places. “If you know the INEC timetable, you will appreciate that we are going to work within that frame work and we are going to be ready, before INEC closes their door to nomination in Anambra State.”

The APC Interim National Chairman said the party has banned those arrogating to themselves some political offices or positions when the APC structure is yet to be erected. “But because the party has not been given the directive,” he added, “some people are just talking on behalf of the party. We are putting a stop to that. Any statement about the party should emanate from the Publicity Secretary of APC and that is Alhaji Lai Mohammed. And whatever he tells you, you should know it is the mind and decision of the All Progressives Congress.”

“We are warning people that are arrogating to themselves chairmanship of APC in the state or in the local government, they are all unauthorized. All those who are printing papers, printing forms, calling rallies in the states in the name of APC, are not yet authorized. The authority will soon begin to flow down from the national level to the state level, and to the local government. And when it is going to be done, the National Publicity Secretary will keep you informed.”

He said the mobilization of members into the new party will begin from the bottom to the top and the membership would be thrown open to all Nigerians, including President Goodluck Jonathan. “If Jonathan is tired of the crisis in the PDP, he is welcome in the APC.”

He said: “We have just finished the first meeting after the INEC registration of the merger of the five committees that came together. And we know our duty as the Interim Leadership of the APC is to mobilize people into APC. Our duty is to register members into the party. “Our duty is to stage congresses, from ward level to local government level, at state level and at the national level. It is to hold a convention to establish a proper structure for the All Progressives Congress. And until that is done, we are having the party in the interim. I hope you will understand that.” Former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari has been chosen to head the committee to advise the party on its structure.