By Ifeoma Aka
Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State says the ongoing constitution amendment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will strengthen internal democracy within the party.
Mbah disclosed this at the South East Zonal Public Hearing on the Amendments of the APC Constitution held in Enugu.
According to the governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, today’s event marks an important moment not only for the party but for the entire South East geopolitical Zone.
“This is the first time ever that the APC will be conducting a constitution amendment public hearing across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and the first in the South East.
“These historic firsts reveal not only the maturity of the APC but also the seriousness with which we approach democratic reforms, internal coherence and broad-based participation,” he said.
The governor said the public hearing would strengthen internal democracy, reflect inclusiveness in democratic governance and party administration and position the party for the 2027 general elections.
Mbah thanked the party for hosting the event in Enugu, saying that it spoke volumes about the centrality of the state in the political life of the South East.
He pledged that the state, under his watch, would continue to support the party as much as possible.
In her remarks, Mrs Miriam Onuoha, the South-East Coordinator, APC Constitution Amendment Committee, said that the idea behind the review was to enlarge the party and accommodate new members.
Onuoha noted that a lot of persons, including Gov. Peter Mbah, recently joined the party adding that amending the party’s constitution would make the new decampees to feel at home as well as make others to join the party.
“We intend to expand the party’s membership and accommodate more people, including former governors, National Assembly members, state assembly members, women, and persons with disabilities.
“The committee aims to position the APC as a leading global political party and accommodate people joining from other parties.
“The committee is tasked with receiving and considering memoranda from party members on the future direction of the APC.
“There is need for women’s inclusion and representation within the party’s leadership structure,” Onuoha said.
Also, APC National Vice Chairman, South East, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, said the party could not continue to operate with outdated constitution, which she disclosed was last amended in 2022.
Arodiogbu highlighted that one advantage of the amendment was the inclusion of women to ensure inclusivity to enable them take more strategic position, instead of one or two position reserved for women in the past.
In his remarks, the APC Acting chairman in the state, Dr Ben Nwoye, commended the party for the choice of Enugu as the venue of the important public hearing on constitution review.
Nwoye said the event had never happened before in the state, stressing that it was coming barely one month after the governor moved to the party.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
