The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated a 19-member committee to plan for the success of its National Convention scheduled for 10 December.

The national convention committee comprise Mr Kayode Fayemi, chairman; Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Deputy Chairman; Alhaji Garba Abari; retired Brig.-Gen. Mansur Danlami; Prof. Umar Farouk; Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim and Mr Olawale Edun.

Others are Prof. Mojeed Alabi, Mr Edwin Egunbo, Mr Preye Aganaba, Mr Kachi Nwoga, Mr Tony Muonagor, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Mr Yakubu Ogara, Dr Alex Ide, Alhaji Mala Bunu, Sen. Osita Izunaso and Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The representatives of the aspirants are Mr Greg Egwu, Alhaji Farouk Adamu, Alhaji Murtala Garo, Alhaji Yusuf Mai-anguwa and Mr Ifeoluwa Arowosoge.

He said that five additional names were expected, including two from the North-West, to bring the number to 24.

Inaugurating the committee, the APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the nation awaited the result of the committee with baited breath and urged them to be transparent.

According to him, each member was painstakingly chosen based on recognition of their high-standing and good reports in the society.

The chairman said the opposition party would soon be the ruling party, adding that nominees for each aspirant were non-voting members added to the committee to ensure transparency.

He said: “I thank those who have agreed to serve in this committee, you have 21 days to prepare; meaning the challenge before you is enormous and so you must start work after this inaugural session.

“You all were selected after a lot of agonising. As the nation holds its breath in sympathy with APC, we have to give a deep thought to every single member.

“The challenge we’re passing on today is for you to make internal democracy and transparency.

“The way we conduct this process and the exercise itself will finally catapult us from the opposition party to the incoming party of the Federal Government of Nigeria so our own fearless reputation is at stake.’’

In his response, the Chairman of the committee and former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Kayode Fayemi, expressed delight to serve the APC committee.

“I am delighted to serve the party on this historic, onerous, tasking assignment which requires all of our human effort to deliver to the standard of a party-in-waiting for the presidency.

“What Nigerians require of us is our commitment to internal democracy and looking at the calibre of people in the committee, I’ve no doubt we should deliver on this assignment on time, on cost and on transparency.’’ Fayemi said