The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended the deadline for its nationwide membership registration/revalidation and update exercise, Njenje Media News reports.
The National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John Akpanudoedehe, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday.
According to Senator Akpanudoedehe, the exercise, scheduled to end on March 31, has now been extended by another three weeks.
“The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) under the leadership of His Excellency, Honourable Mai Mala Buni had done everything possible to keep to the earlier timeline.
“However, it has become imperative to extend the duration of this very important party activity,” he said in the statement.
The party chieftain explained that the party’s decision to extend the deadline for the exercise followed the audit of the reports received from the party’s National Membership Registration, Revalidation and Update Committee, the states’ registration committees, as well as the APC situation room.
He said the APC noted that most states for varied reasons started the exercise late and required additional time to conclude it.
According to Senator Akpanudoedehe, the party also considered the avalanche of applications from critical stakeholders, including all state caretaker chairmen for an extension of time to capture Nigerians who are desirous of joining the APC.
He added, “Consequently, the CECPC has approved the recommendation of the National Committee for the Membership Registration, Revalidation and Update to extend the duration of the exercise for three weeks.”
Among those who called for the extension of the deadline were members of the Forum of the APC State Chairmen.
The party chairman who met on Thursday in Abuja stated that the extension was necessary to give room for more persons to join the APC.
They added that the turnout of Nigerians and mass increase in the party’s strength in the last few months were indications that more Nigerians were willing to join the party.
