Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Abdullahi Abbas, has hinted that governor Abba Yusuf may register and collect the party’s membership card between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Abbas stated this while addressing 1,500 ad hoc staff hired to handle the party’s Electronic Registration Exercise in the state.
The Kano APC chair explained that the party delayed the start of the e-registration because the party was awaiting the return of its state leader, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Governor Yusuf from Abuja. Both leaders are expected back after meeting President Bola Tinubu.
“Be on standby, we may call on you tomorrow, Tuesday, depending on the arrival of the party leader, Ganduje and the governor in Kano, so that you can start the work. But it will not exceed Wednesday.”
According to Abbas, the ad hoc staff should be ready to begin work as soon as the leaders arrive.
“Everybody is aware of the news of the Governor’s defection, and we felt it was not polite to hurriedly commence the process without giving them the opportunity to join the party,” Abbas stated.
He said the exercise would start no later than Wednesday.
The APC chairman added that the party wants Kano to record the highest number of new members in the country, even surpassing Lagos.
He urged registration officials to register everyone who shows interest in joining the party, without discrimination.
Abbas also announced that local governments and wards that attract the highest number of new members will be rewarded by the party.
He described the training of the ad hoc staff as very important, stressing that registration is required for anyone who wants to be a full party member. He said that without registration, a person cannot vote or contest for any position within the party.
Abbas noted that the APC had already commenced the exercise in other states about two weeks earlier, but Kano could not begin due to political developments in the state. He said the party decided to wait, especially with reports that the governor may defect, to give everyone a fair chance to register.
He added that the APC is open to all Nigerians, both leaders and ordinary citizens, young and old.
“APC is a democratic party for all – those occupying positions and the masses. The party needs everybody, both old and young, to come on board,” he said.
He admitted that people are facing difficulties but expressed hope that things would improve before the next election.
The party chairman said the national leadership of the APC had already trained key state officials and coordinators, and that the registration exercise would run until the end of the month.
He also hinted that local governments and wards that strongly support the party could benefit politically in the future.
Abbas further stated that only people with valid voter cards and National Identity cards are eligible for e-registration, noting that these documents are needed to plan properly for the party’s success.
