State congresses progressing smoothly nationwide, says NDC
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday said its ongoing state congresses are progressing smoothly across the country without major disputes over security, logistics or stakeholder interests. The Deputy National
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday said its ongoing state congresses are progressing smoothly across the country without major disputes over security, logistics or stakeholder interests.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, gave the assurance on while speaking to our correspondent in Abuja on the ongoing internal reorganisation of the party following recent high-profile defections into its fold.
According to him, reports reaching the national leadership indicate that party structures across the states are cooperating with the congress process.
“The congresses are going according to plan. We do not have issues in terms of stakeholders functionalising themselves with varied interests that are at variance,” Abdulsalam said.
“We also do not have problems regarding security, venues or logistics generally. Everything is running very smoothly.”
He explained that the state congresses were still ongoing and would be followed by zonal congresses ahead of the party’s national convention.
“For the congresses at the state level, it is still an ongoing exercise. Today we are having the state congresses, while the zonal congresses will follow immediately after that,” he said.
He added that the conclusion of the zonal congresses would pave the way for the party’s national convention within days.
“With the zonal congresses, we will conclude the exercise across the states and zones. Then we will prepare for the national convention of the party within 72 hours after the congresses,” he stated.
Responding to a question, Abdulsalam also disclosed that the party had witnessed what he described as unprecedented membership registration figures across several states amid the ongoing reorganisation.
“We have tremendous numbers of people who have registered — unprecedented numbers,” he said.
“In Adamawa State, we have well over 50,000 registered members. In Taraba, we have well over 35,000 registrations, beyond the threshold we were looking at.
“In Kogi and other northern states, and even in southern states, especially Bayelsa, we have recorded monumental levels of registration.”
The NDC spokesman said the party was targeting at least 300 registered members per ward nationwide, far above the minimum threshold prescribed by law.
“We need to follow the guidelines of the Electoral Act. We cannot afford to have less than 100 members per ward.
“But our party’s target is 300 members per ward, and I can assure you that we are well above that threshold across the country,” he said.
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Abdulsalam further said the party was rounding off its recent wave of defections following the formal admission of former presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into the NDC.
He described their entry into the party as the “climax” of the ongoing defection movement.
“Actually, we consider yesterday’s event as the climax of the whole defection series that we have been having. It is like we are capping it up,” he said.
He, however, noted that more politicians could still join the party, although he did not foresee any fresh high-profile ceremonial defections because of the impending closure of the party’s membership registration portal and timelines set by the Electoral Act.
“Anybody that wants to defect can defect, but becoming a card-carrying member of the party might be the challenge because the Electoral Act puts limits on registration of members,” he added.
“That does not mean people cannot declare their defection, but mind you, the deadline for closure of our portal is today at midnight, except if the party decides otherwise and extends it for another one week, which I do not think is most likely,” he said.
