DAY 1 – 1st February 2021
Members of the “APC State Registration and Revalidation Committee” assigned to Ekiti state comprising of the following persons;
Alhaji Yusuf Shittu Galambi (Chairman) Rt. Hon. Chidi Duru (Secretary), Barr. Edet Eyo Bassey (Member), Hon. Mohammed Ndanusa (Member), Hon. Naomi Joel Awak (Member), and Barr. Smart Ihea’zor (Member) arrived Ado Ekiti safely today, 1st February 2021 to a warm and brief welcome by HE, Governor Kayode Fayemi at his office. Addressing members of the committee, HE, Governor Fayemi assured the committee of safety and cooperation by his office and the State chapter of the Party to make conduct of the exercise a huge success. Speaking further he said, “the assignment of the committee was made much easier because APC, Ekiti chapter is one strong and united family.
Thereafter, the committee interacted with the State Party Chairman, Barr. Paul Omotosho and members of the state Exco who warmly received their guest and ensured they were safe and comfortable in the state. The State Chairman briefed the committee of the preparation for the proposed Ekiti APC stakeholders meeting. An understanding was reached with regards to the modality, time and location of the meeting.
STAKEHOLDERS MEETING
As scheduled, the stakeholders meeting kicked off with over two hundred persons in attendance. They included leaders and Elders of the Party, Government functionaries and other stakeholders. The State Governor, HE, Kayode Fayemi was ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi. Other notable dignitaries present at the meeting were; former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Biodun Aluko, the state Party Chairman, Barr. Paul Omotosho, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Biodun Omoleye, Special Adviser to the Governor, (Political) Hon. Olusoga David. The stakeholders meeting was convened at the Lady Jibowu hall within the precinct of the Governor’s office.
Welcoming the attendees, the State Chairman, Barr. Paul Omotosho expressed thanks and appreciation to the visiting Committee members. He commended their interest to serve the party and the courage to come all the way to Ekiti to conduct this very important party assignment. He said the stakeholder’s meetings was necessitated by the need for interaction with the Committee in order to provide a clear insight and directives for the conduct of the membership registration and revalidation exercise. He assured the Committee of a hitch free and successful exercise.
In his response, the Committee Chairman, Alh. Yusuf Shittu Galambi thanked the stakeholders for the warm reception accorded his team saying it was a privilege and honour to serve Ekiti state in this capacity. He said, “the membership registration and revalidation exercise are the initiative of the National Leadership of the Party. It is a voluntary exercise by willing members of the party”. He said, the registration shall be conducted at the units recognized and documented by INEC. There shall be no registration at polling centres. The Committee shall have three (3) levels of operations; Local government level, Ward level and Unit level. At the LG level, we shall have 2 officers; at the ward 2 officers also and at the units 3 officers one of which must be a woman. Tomorrow, 2nd February, 2021 we shall commence a very important aspect of our programme which is to “train the trainers”. We shall be training 2 persons from each of the 16 local governments of Ekiti state who shall in-turn return to their respective local government areas to train ward officers who will in-turn train the unit officers. Specific dates have been scheduled for these exercises and shall be followed accordingly. Materials for the exercise has been safely delivered to the state and shall be distributed as provided in our schedule of activities. Actual registration shall commence on Tuesday, 9th of February 2021. We look forward to your utmost cooperation and hope that Ekiti shall emerge as the state with the highest registered members of APC.
The stakeholders meeting was interactive with question and answer session. Two issues were raised and were addressed by the Committee Secretary, Rt. Hon. Chidi Duru; (1) the requirement to enter registrant’s voter’s card number in the prescribed form for completion. Question: What if the registrants has just attained 18 years and yet to procure a voter’s card? Answer: None availability of voter’s card does not preclude one from registration. (2) A stakeholder thought it more economical and time saving to train everyone at the same time rather than stagger the training as scheduled. Answer: APC and Ekiti state in particular are very concerned about the observation of Covid-19 protocol. It will not be safe to bring all that number of persons under the same roof for the training.
In his brief remark, the State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, welcomed the committee from Abuja to Ekiti state. He commended the Party for the initiative saying Ekiti state was ready for the exercise. He re-echoed the fact that APC in Ekiti is one united and indivisible family. He implored all the Party leaders to return to their respective units and undertake massive mobilization of persons and to supervise the conduct of the exercise.
The stakeholders meeting ended a warm a very cordial note with excited stakeholders coming forward to exchange pleasantries with committee members.
After the stakeholders meeting, the Committee proceeded to the Party secretariat to inspect some of the registration materials that had been delivered by the courier. They were sighted neatly packed as seen in the pictures attached herewith and received by the committee. The Committee Chairman cautioned the Party on the safety of the materials emphasising the need to keep utmost vigilance to ensure safety and security of the items.
Edet Eyo Bassey is a member of the APC States Membership Registration and Revalidation Committee assigned to Ekiti state.
