The Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Dr Salihu Lukman, on Thursday, described members of the All Progressives Congress opposed to the planned membership registration and revalidation exercise, as political bandits who were desperate to install surrogate leaders.

Lukman said this, in response to threats by party supporters under the aegis of Concerned APC members, to take legal action should the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, proceed with the registration exercise.

Spokesman of the C-APC, Abdullahi Dauda, had in an interview with UGAMATV , revealed plans by members of the group to approach the courts to seek a judicial interpretation of Article 17 (4), of the APC Constitution 2004 (As amended), which he said forbade party members from holding two elective offices simultaneously.

He said, “The plan to hold a fresh membership registration is certainly not part of the mandate given to the committee, we don’t expect the committee to stay in office beyond December, 2020, if it does, we will have to approach the courts.”

Speaking in a similar vein, the former Senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Marafa, who is a factional leader of the APC in Zamfara State, said, “The Buni committee should carry out its assignment in line with the six months mandate or quit for allow others who can do the job.”

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However, in a statement titled, “Campaign against Membership Registration in APC: A Smokescreen for Surrogate Leadership,” in Abuja, Lukman, said claims by some members that the mandate given to the Buni committee didn’t include membership registration, were being dishonest.

He said, “In this age of banditry, it will appear that some of our so-called leaders are as skillful in politics as the criminal bandits ravaging our communities – towns and villages.

“These so-called leaders advocating for APC to have a National Convention without going through the process of membership registration/verification simply want to plant their surrogates as the new leaders of the party. To achieve that, false arguments are being presented that the National Convention of the party doesn’t require membership registration.”

Also, the chairman of APC state chairmen forum in charge of the North West, Isa Acida, said, “We acknowledge and commend the committee’s efforts at repositioning the party. We are equally aware of the committee’s desire to produce an authentic national membership register for the party.” They urged all well meeting party members to support the caretaker committee to achieve its set objective.”