Confusion as APC gives INEC conflicting dates for National Convention

There is confusion in the house of the All Progressives Congress following the party’s notification to the Independent National Electoral Commission on the dates for its Ward, Local Government and State Congresses and National Convention.
The party had earlier released dates for the elections, which run contrary to what was sent to INEC via a letter by its National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni.
According to the letter by Buni, addressed to the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Ward Congresses will take place on May 2, 2018, while the Local Government Congresses will be held on May 5, 2018.
For the State Congresses, it will be May 9, while the National Convention is slated for May 14, 2018.
These were the earlier dates released by the party:
May 5: Ward Congresses to elect Ward Officers
May 7-9: Appeals from Ward Congresses
May 12: LGA Congresses to elect LGA Officers
May 14: Appeals from LGA Congresses
May 19: State Congresses to elect State Officers
May 21-23: Appeals from State Congresses
June 23: National Convention to elect National Officers.
Also in the letter Buni sent to INEC, obtained by The Eagle Online on Wednesday, the party did not state categorically that it was holding the elections to change the officers of the party in an elective atmosphere for all offices.
Rather, it said it was filling vacant offices.
Buni wrote: “We write to advise that our Party is scheduled to conduct Ward, Local Government, State Congresses and National Convention to fill vacant offices arising from effusion of time or appointment into government offices, death and other reasons as stipulated in Article 17of our Party’s Constitution.”
Buni then went on to say Special Local Government Congresses will be held to elect delegates to the National Convention.
This development, according to sources, has further fuelled the speculation within the party that the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee, led by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were working towards affirmation of the executives from the Ward level to the National.
The Eagle Online was told that the North Central Zone of the party has already agreed to the idea of affirmation of the incumbent executives at all levels.
It was learnt that at a meeting of the zone on Monday, the idea of affirmation was approved.
The Eagle Online was told that there is already unease within the party over this development as there are several party members who have started preparing to stand for different offices, including those of the executives at the national level.