By Mackie M. Jalloh
The All People’s Congress (APC) has dismissed suggestions that it is unprepared to conduct its internal elections, insisting that repeated postponements have been caused by petitions lodged with the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), rather than organisational shortcomings within the party.
Speaking during an interview with Liberty Online TV, APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sidi Yayah Tunis, said the party remains fully ready to conduct its internal electoral process but has been compelled to comply with directives issued by the PPRC following complaints filed by party members.
According to Tunis, the delays should not be interpreted as a sign of disorganisation or lack of readiness. Instead, he argued that the petitions submitted to the electoral regulatory body have disrupted the party’s timetable and prevented scheduled elections from proceeding as planned.
“The postponements are not because the APC is unprepared,” he said. “We have made the necessary preparations to conduct our internal elections, but the petitions before the PPRC have affected the process.”
The APC has in recent weeks faced a series of setbacks after the PPRC directed the suspension of constituency level elections in locations where the outcome of ward elections had been formally challenged. The Commission’s intervention followed complaints relating to aspects of the party’s internal electoral and dispute resolution processes.
Tunis explained that the party is working closely with the PPRC to address the outstanding issues and ensure that all concerns are resolved within the framework of the law.
Despite the interruptions, he expressed confidence that the APC would complete its internal electoral process and successfully convene its National Delegates Conference before the end of the year.
He disclosed that the party is targeting the resumption of ward elections as early as next week, provided the pending matters before the PPRC are concluded.
The APC spokesman also highlighted the financial implications of the repeated postponements, noting that significant resources are committed each time an election is scheduled. He said repeated cancellations have placed an unnecessary burden on the party’s finances and logistical planning.
According to him, funds are mobilised for election materials, personnel and operational arrangements whenever a poll is organised, only for those resources to be wasted when elections are suspended at the last minute.
Tunis maintained that, despite the setbacks, the APC remains committed to conducting transparent, credible and democratic internal elections in accordance with its constitution and the country’s electoral regulations.
He added that the party’s leadership is optimistic that once the pending petitions are resolved, the remaining stages of the internal elections will proceed without further interruptions, paving the way for the National Delegates Conference later this year.
