Intrigues: As APC Toes Buhari’s Lead, Zones Chair To North-Central

It was announced yesterday that the party’s national chairmanship seat would be allocated to the North-Central geopolitical zone.

Ahead of the party’s national convention on March 26, the party announced a new zoning formula for various NWC offices.

The formula matches the one signed by President Buhari on March 1, 2022, exclusively last Thursday and Saturday.

The party zoned the national chairmanship to the North-Central, effectively edging out other zones.

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (North East), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari (North West), Mr Sylvester Moniedafe (Adamawa State) and Danjuma Goje (Gombe) are among the contestants effectively eliminated by the formula (North-East).

Senators Adamu Abdullahi and Tanko Al-Makura, former governors of Nasarawa State; Malam Saliu Mustapha, Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change; Senator Mohammed Sani Musa; and Dr George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs

President Buhari endorsed Senator Adamu Abdullahi as a consensus candidate, according to a document signed by APC governors.

Most North-Central candidates have refused to accept Senator Adamu and have continued their campaigns, warning the party against imposing candidates. Some stakeholders agree with them.

Zone formula

Party Publicity Director Salisu Nainna Dambatta said the party also zoned the National Secretary to the South-West.

Dambatta said the decision came after the CECPC’s regular meeting on Tuesday.

The CECPC approved the recommendations of the Zoning Committee headed by Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

Positions zoned to North-Central include National Chairman, Vice Chairman (North-Central), Zonal Secretary, Zonal Leader (Youth), Zonal Organiser (Women), and National Ex-Officio Member.

Zonal Vice Chairman (South-South), Zonal Youth Leader (South-South), Zonal Organising Secretary (South-South), Zonal Women Leader (South-South), Zonal Special Leader (PWD) and National Ex-Officio Member.

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There is a National Secretary, National Vice Chairman (South-West), National Youth Leader, National Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and a National Ex-Officio Member for the South-West.

A National Ex-Officio Member represents the South-East.

Positions zoned to the North-East include Deputy National Chairman, Auditor, National Vice-Chairman (North-East), Deputy National Women’s Leader, Zonal Secretary, Youth Leader, Organising Secretary (North-East), Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD), and National Ex-Officio Member.

Zonal Secretary, Youth Leader, Zonal Organiser, Zonal Special Leader (PWD), Zonal Vice Chairman (North-West) and National Ex-Officio Member are all from the North-West.

Dambatta added that the CECPC’s zonal representatives will coordinate the process.

CECPC ponders proposed NEC meeting

Meanwhile, the CECPC was in a bind over its decision to call an emergency National Executive Committee meeting next Thursday.

Because, as Vanguard reported yesterday, only the party’s national chairman or a two-thirds majority of NEC members can call such a meeting.

Party sources say the CECPC, now led by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello as acting national chairman, is weighing two options to convene the NEC.

Using Article 25(B)1, getting two-thirds of NEC members to sign a document calling for a NEC meeting. To sign any document calling for a meeting, the NEC’s current composition is vague, and its members are scattered across the country.

The second option is that the CECPC members, except Governor Mai Mala Buni and National Secretary Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, resolved to attend a NEC meeting. They finally agreed on March 17.

Their resolution will then be forwarded to the Presidency for approval. The issue is that while CECPC members are automatically NEC members, they do not constitute the two-thirds majority required to convene the crucial meeting.

So, invite Governor Buni back, ask him to call a NEC meeting, then remove him and replace him with Governor Bello. The concern is whether Buni will call a NEC meeting if given control of the CECPC now.

In a bind, the party cannot invoke the doctrine of necessity on this issue, and time is running out. Our constitution states that the National Executive Committee ‘shall meet every quarter and/or at any time decided by the national chairman or upon written request by at least two-thirds of members of the National Executive Committee’.

That means we can’t have the NEC meeting without Buni or two-thirds of NEC members, one source told Vanguard.

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Buhari’s camp may re-strategize in London.

Governor Buni, who is backed by 12 APC governors, has yet to return to Nigeria. He’s been gone for a week and was due back Tuesday. In light of his abrupt resignation as CECPC chairman, sources say he may fly from Dubai to London.

His supporters in the CECPC and party hierarchy are said to be waiting for his return.

The CECPC empowered governors who dominated the APC’s last congresses at all levels and were poised to dominate the National Convention.

Indeed, the CECPC National Secretary, Senator Akpanudoedehe, said on Tuesday that he and Buni would resign if President Buhari so desired.

Confidence crisis

Senator Akpanudoedehe was absent from the party secretariat yesterday, indicating that the CECPC’s crisis of confidence is not over.

Due to his role as the party’s bureaucracy, Senator Akpanudoedehe has been the only CECPC member to return to the secretariat every day since June 2020.

The party scribe was noticeably absent from Wednesday’s CECPC meeting and inauguration of national convention sub-committees.

The previous day, Akpanudoedehe told journalists he was waiting for his boss, Governor Buni, to return.

Among those present at Governor Bello’s sub-committee inauguration were Dr Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Jigawa State Governor Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle, and Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade.

Governor Fayemi introduced Governor Bello as the party’s “National Chairman”.

Bello said his team has begun work to ensure the national convention goes as planned.

As you may have noticed, the national secretariat has begun efforts to ensure a free and fair convention. We have worked hard to ensure a successful convention, including appointing committee chairmen and secretaries based on their performance and party loyalty.

“We ask that you show these qualities to help the convention succeed. I know many of our party faithful wanted to contribute to a healthy party by serving on various committees. Remember that you cannot accommodate everyone on the committee. So we reduced the number without undermining anyone, and I believe this is best for our party.

“I also want to thank the Caretaker Committee members for their hard work compiling the list because our party is the largest in Nigeria, if not Africa.

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“Don’t be offended if your name isn’t on the list. I’m sure more will come. I want to remind you that the National Convention must be held on March 26, 2022. That day is holy.

Bello said Buni’s over 1000-member committees were too large to organize the convention and reduced them to 107. Apart from Buni, the CECPC will have 12 members on the central planning committee.

The conventions’ election committee will be chaired by Jigawa Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.

For Imo senator and presidential aspirant Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the appointment of Bello as CECPC acting chairman was a dark day.

Okorocha revealed this shortly after the inauguration of the convention sub-committees.

“I can see the light now,” he said. Thanks to Mr. President’s leadership, I am confident that this convention will be free and fair. Give every party member a sense of belonging. Not forgetting the APC’s founding fathers and parties.

The CPC, ACN, APGA, ANPP, and the new PDP.

A peaceful convention will result if these people are supported and the governors are recognized as party leaders.

Warning: don’t jeopardize our electoral chances.

Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Chairman of the Southern Governor’s Forum and Governor of Ondo State, has warned the APC not to waste its chances in the 2023 elections.

Akeredolu emphasized the party’s need to maintain internal democracy during its March 26 national convention.

He said this when he met with Senator Sani Musa, a national chairmanship hopeful.

Senator Sani is the chairman of the Senate Services Committee.

He added that the APC cannot afford to waste its chances ahead of the general elections.

“I believe we are now facing our party’s soul. My, your, and our party. You mentioned that a number of people formed alliances to depose a 16-year-old government. We have legacy parties and others.

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“We gathered that crowd. We changed the political narrative. We snatched the bull. We’ve been out of office for eight years. We can’t afford to miss out. We must unite as a political party.

“We need values. What are our tenets? Do we want to represent a democratic institution valued by all? Let’s carve out our own niche.

“I support zoning offices because they provide a balance. What I have said, and will continue to say, is that internal democracy is required.

Earlier, Senator Musa said he chose to visit the governor because of his party’s importance and convictions.

“We know how you want this country united, a country of equity, fairness, and justice,” he said. You want a country where we all believe Nigeria is for us. I agree with your ideas and believe we will be one if we can apply them to our political party.

It needs a strong leader. It is not by age, size, or appearance. It’s based on your ancestors and strength. The party has done something with the power devolution. It’s still not implemented.

It’s not enough. We need our people to believe that God has destined us for success. No one will make it for us. “I am here to seek your support in the upcoming national convention,” Musa said.

Buni retains CECPC Chairmanship – APC Senate Caucus

Nonetheless, the APC Senate Caucus said yesterday that the party’s crisis was over and Buni remained CECPC chairman.

They met for three hours in New Senate Wing room 301.

The meeting adopted a seven-point communique aimed at defusing tensions within the party.

They agreed to meet with the CECPC, Governors Fora leaders, and aspirants/candidates this weekend.

Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), Senate Majority Leader, said issues facing the party were exhaustively deliberated upon with a clear indication of peace ahead of the party’s March 26, 2022 National Convention.

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“We in the APC as Senate caucus met for the second day running this week towards required collaboration with other stakeholders for the unity of purpose in the party ahead of the coming National Convention and 2023 general election,” Abdullahi said.

“The caucus has mapped out required strategies to bring all interest groups together to strengthen the party for the 2023 general elections.

“There was no leadership crisis, as reported by the media. We still consider Governor Buni to be the party’s National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Chairman. He will resume that role as soon as he returns from a medical check-up in Dubai.

In addition to avoiding a leadership vacuum, Governor Sani Bello is putting in place necessary arrangements for the party’s upcoming National Convention in 17 days.

The APC Caucus also resolved to “constitute itself into a platform for articulating and canvassing the major challenges of unity, and sense of purpose that is required for the Party to win the 2023 General Elections.”

Consult the national party leadership on zoning issues and other pre-election processes to achieve an all-inclusive process of selecting the best material for party and government leadership.

Others tried to thwart our convention — El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai yesterday accused some APC-elected governors of trying to sabotage the party’s March 26 convention.

Governor el-Rufai said President Buhari approved the takeover of the CECPC by Governor Bello of Niger State on Monday and accelerated the processes leading to the March 26 National Convention before he left for London on Sunday.

“We had several meetings with the President and among ourselves to try to get the national convention process going, but we began to get signals that some elements in the party were bent on preventing the national convention.

“You may recall that the convention was to be held in November, December, and finally January, but no action was taken to make it happen. Even the March 26 announcement was made without our input. We began to receive indications that some party leaders and governors were planning to miss the March 26 deadline. After that Saturday, Ramadan begins, so we won’t have a convention until May, after Sallah. And, according to the INEC calendar, a convention in May puts us one month behind the primaries.

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“We were very concerned and demanded to meet with the President as the Progressive Governors’ Forum and the party leadership on February 2. We told him what needed to be done to have our convention on March 26. The location of the national chairman will determine the rest of the zoning. The President chose the national chairman, but we should consider the North-Central.

“The president approved the zoning formula we presented to him. The President has told us who he wants as party chairman, but I can’t say who it is. The president is nearby. It happened with John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, and it will happen again. We are still reconciling. Other positions can be challenged, but not the National Chairmanship.”