APC Membership Revalidation Is Not Meant To Witch-Hunt Anyone – Governor Bello

… Says exercise is to Reposition The Party

Olabode Adaramola

Govrnor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State and National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) Committee on membership registration and revalidation exercise,  has assured party members that the ongoing party revalidation and registration exercise was  not meant to favour or work against any member of the party.

The Governor also statrd  that the exercise was  legal as it has the approval and the blessing of the National Working Committee of the  party.

Speaking shortly after performing the exercise at his Alkali Mustapha Unit, Central Ward in Kontagora, on Saturday, the Governor pointed out  that though people were entitled to their opinions  about the ongoing exercise,saying,  “it is not meant to witch hunt anyone, rather it is to meant to  reposition the party for the better.

He noted that since 2014 when the last exercise took place, there has never been  any opportunity for the ruling party members to revalidate their membership or give opportunity for new members to be registered.

According to him, “in a democratic setting  like in Nigeria,  you expect the citizens to express their views but the truth of the matter is that the process is not favour or work against anyone.

“Since 2015, when the party came into power many people have left the party, some have even died and many want to come into the party. Again since that time many of the youths have attained the age of 18years and above  and they want to join the party”.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello,  said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the party should be rebuilt from the grassroots to the top,  “that is why he supported this exercise”.

The Governor however assured that anywhere there was problem as a result of the registration/ revalidation exercise his committee will resolve such problems, stressing that shortage of materials in some areas will also be addressed.

The also hinted that having flagged off the exercise in Kontagora on Saturday that the revalidation and reregistration exercise had commenced  till the next two weeks, pointing out that if there was any need for the extension of the exercise that the National Caretaker Committee of the party will look into it.

In the meantime  the Special Adviser Political Matters to the Governor,  Alhaji Nma Kolo has advocated continuous revalidation and registration of party members by all political parties in the country

Nma Kolo added that the party register should not be closed at anytime so that those who have attained voting age can join a political party of their choice.

Speaking to newsmen Kolo said that many people who  might have been sitting on the fence and can change their minds and want to join a political party saying keeping the register open will allow such people to do so.

Kolo said continuous registration of party members will not only entrench democracy but also ” reduce rush “

associated with such exercise if the registration was not made permanent.

The Special Adviser commended party members in the state for the peaceful and orderly manner the exercise is handled so far urging them to continue with such attitude.

The exercise was witnessed by Senator Osita Izunaso  in charge of the North Central zone and Senator Domingo Abende in charge of Niger state for the exercise.