By Forum staff writer
The Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) has issued clear directives outlining transitional leadership arrangements and election procedures for the All Peoples Congress following the expiration of the party’s three year mandate.
According to the Commission, the current National Executive Committee, National Advisory Committee, other serving officers of the APC, and all existing elected bodies will continue to provide leadership for a period not exceeding six months. This extension takes effect from the date the party’s three year term expired and is grounded in the provisions of Section 39 subsection 5 of the Political Parties Act 2022, which allows for continuity in leadership under defined circumstances.
The Commission explained that the extension is intended to ensure stability within the party while preparations are made for its National Delegates Conference, which is expected to elect a new leadership. By allowing the current structures to remain in place temporarily, the Commission aims to prevent a leadership vacuum that could disrupt the party’s internal administration and political activities.
In its second directive, the Commission stated that if the six month extension expires before the APC convenes its National Delegates Conference, the Interim Elections Management Committee will continue with the conduct of the party’s internal elections. This provision is designed to guarantee that the electoral process proceeds without delay, even if unforeseen challenges affect the planned conference timeline.
The role of the Interim Elections Management Committee is to oversee and manage the internal electoral process, ensuring that it is conducted in a transparent, credible, and orderly manner in line with the party’s constitution and national laws. The Commission stressed that this mechanism is essential to safeguarding internal democracy and maintaining confidence among party members.
The third directive addresses the administration of the party should the extension period lapse before the National Delegates Conference is held. In such a situation, the Leader of the APC in Parliament is mandated to constitute a team of five additional Members of Parliament, each representing one of the country’s five regions. This group will be responsible for administering the affairs of the party until the National Delegates Conference is successfully convened and concluded.
Political observers say the directives provide a structured roadmap for the APC at a critical moment, balancing the need for continuity with the imperative of timely internal elections. They note that the Commission’s approach reflects an effort to uphold the law while promoting stability within one of the country’s major political parties.
As the APC moves forward under these guidelines, attention is expected to focus on preparations for the National Delegates Conference and the conduct of internal elections that will shape the party’s leadership and direction in the coming years.
