Plateau APC begins offline registration of new members

The Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress says it has started offline registration of new members in the state.
The Chairman, Letep Dabam, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos on Monday that new members were being received “in droves” at the polling units.
Dabam said: “The directive from the headquarters is that new members should normally be registered online, but with the number of people seeking to come in, we have to first do it offline and move the details online later.”
He said party officials at the polling unit levels had been directed to compile names of new entrants and send them to ward leaders for onward transmission to the local government chapters.
Dabam said some of the new members were impressed by the performance of the party after it took over power from its Peoples Democratic Party rival in the state.
He said many prospective members could not be captured when the membership was limited to 100 for every polling unit.
He said: “In some cases, some interested members of the public were simply left out because there were no forms.
“So we have decided to make other arrangements to capture them.”
The APC chairman said Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State would soon begin a statewide thank you tour and receive the new members in their respective localities.
Dabam said: “Some defectors are coming in individually, while others are coming as groups.
“We have opened our doors and shall continue to accommodate them.”
Dabam also said the membership drive was being intensified in local governments like Jos South, Langtang North, Langtang South, Kanke, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi and Pankshin.
On the quality of those decamping, Dabam said such consideration was not the party’s priority.
He said: “Even if it is a mad man that comes to register, we shall consider him once we are sure he can come out on election day and cast his or her vote.”
He said the Lalong administration was doing very well in Plateau State, especially with its decision to complete projects started by his predecessors, which had been adjudged to have benefits to the public.
Dabam also reacted to recent protests by some groups alleging that they had been left out of appointments made so far.
He said: “There are 53 ethnic groups in Plateau and we have appointed only 17 commissioners.
“Other appointments will come and there must be fairness to ensure that everyone is carried along.
“All we need is patience from all.
“The government is open and shall listen to all complaints with a view to addressing them.”
NAN.