2019: APC Begins Massive Preparation For Convention, General Elections

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun mobilizing resources in preparation for its National Convention, presidential primaries and the general elections, which will hold in 2019.

The APC National Working Committee (NWC), led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had in its proposed 2018 budget earmarked the sum N500 million for the purchase of 20 vehicles for members of the NWC.

The ruling party has also budgeted N1.3 billion to host its National Convention and presidential primaries.

In addition, the APC has allocated the sum of N2.3 billion, being the cost to out rightly purchase its National Secretariat in Abuja.

The NWC presented its proposals in a budget totalling N14.82 billion to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party.

The APC National Treasury, Bala Gwagwarwa, said the party hopes to raise funds to execute its projects through the augmentation of subscription fees by its members. He said the party was in the process of initiating a monthly payment through the use of mobile airtimes.

He said, “Looking ahead to 2018 which is an election year, a lot of activities ranging from organization of congresses/primaries, conventions, sensitisation meetings and campaigns are expected to take place. The budget must inevitably have to be robust, flexible and capable of being implemented. Bearing this in mind, a budget of N14.82 billion is being proposed.

“In order to ensure funding stability and budget implementation, membership contribution has been identified as crucial. Accordingly, a framework to deploy electronic payment system that assures convenience, transparency, and ease of reconciliation of payment has been designed. This system allows the use of airtime to pay the monthly N100 membership dues by members while bigger payment can be transacted through the banks.

“This system has been substantially completed except the negotiation of the revenue sharing formula between the party and the telecom companies whose platform will be used in collecting the payment and regulatory impediments by the Nigerian Communications Commission and Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The Minister of Communication has graciously lent his support and it is expected that issues around the regulatory impediments will soon be resolved, which will substantially support the party’s ongoing discussion on revenue sharing formula. Due to the difficulty the party is facing, we have additionally engaged SystemSpec (Remita) as an alternative channel for collection of dues and levies, which we hope will be launched soon.

“The 2017 budget performance was substantially better due to prompt intervention of our state governors and National Assembly members.”

Gwagwarwa also stated that the party hopes to make more revenue from the different state chapters of the party.

According to him, APC hopes generate N2.4 billion at the rate of N100 million from each of the 24 states under its control and about N1.05 billion from eminent members of the party in non-APC states.