By Tony Yayo
The National Secretary General of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, Ambassador Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh has recently intimated this press that the party has resolved to restrict the registration procedures for groups or organizations that want to affiliate with it.
The statement by Ambassador Yansaneh comes following rumors that some groups have been denied registration while others have been allowed to register without going through any rigorous procedures.
Currently, there are tens of organizations and support groups that intend to officially affiliate with the APC ahead of the 2023 general elections. However, according to the APC Scribe, they are not refusing the organization or setting barriers but merely following the rules and regulations stipulated in the party constitution for the registration of affiliate groups or organisation. He continued that according to the APC constitutions, only developmental or community based organizations are eligible to register with it and not politically minded organizations. He added that before they will be certified, the party would thoroughly scrutinize any group or organsiation before final certificate will be issued them. He revealed that the APC has hundreds of affiliate groups and organisations that are supporting them, and that each of these groups take part in whatever activity or event the party has.
He advised all those wanting to join the APC to follow the right channel and urged them to reframe from making side comments against the party without consultations with the national executive.
Meanwhile, members of some of the groups that intend to affiliate with the APC are criticizing the party hierarchy for wanting to take total ownership of the process by allowing their own interest groups to register while deterring others from registering. According to many, interest groups are allowed to register so that members can serve as delegates during the party’s National Delegates’ election.