In a statement by the party’s spokesman, Bolaji Ahmed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday denied the existence of the breakaway Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC), warning members of the group could face 
punitive measures. He accused the group of trying to create a false impression that the APC is factionalised.
“While we shall continue to monitor developments in this respect, we will not hesitate to take lawful actions to defend the unity of our party and protect the sanctity of its identity.
We are currently reviewing the action of this so-called faction, in order to determine if any aspect of the party’s constitution has been breached with the connivance of any of our members,” the APC said.
“The All Progressives Congress wishes to affirm that there is no faction in our party and declares the action by these individuals as mischievous and ill-advised,” he said.
He said: “Having failed to scuttle the national convention as was their original plan, they have now resorted to this subterfuge as a way of achieving the pre-determined end of causing confusion.
“As a matter of fact, we doubt that these individuals parading as leaders of the so- called faction are actual members of our party. We are currently investigating their true membership status within the party.”
But APC chieftain and chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari, sounded conciliatory, expressing confidence a truce would be reached between both parties.
Following a meeting at the Presidential Villa on the deadlocked deliberations of the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee (FAAC), Yari told reporters that although he was worried about the development, it was something the party could handle.
Urging both sides to be calm, he said: “You know that with the approach of election, you will expect this kind of thing.
You will expect crisis left, right and centre, especially in a party with an overwhelming majority, because of political interests. The most important thing is that with the emergence of new leadership everything will be resolved. Therefore, no panic.”
