The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is to commence sale of expression of interest and nomination forms to all categories of aspirants for National Working Committee (NWC) offices ahead of its national convention slated for February 26.
According to the party’s schedule of activities for the convention released earlier, the sale of forms would commence today at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, while submission of completed forms and accompanying documents would be on or before February 19.
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Our correspondent however reports that many APC chieftains gunning for various positions were confused yesterday following the “failure” of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to release the zoning formula.
One of the chairmanship aspirants who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity said, “I’m confused myself because we have not been given any direction. How do you sell forms without zoning; without giving direction to aspirants? What is the agenda?” he queried.
Another aspirant said, ”As we speak, there are no specific details yet. So, some of us are still in the dark.”
Daily Trust reports that controversy over zoning was still raging among top party leaders and power brokers as of the time of filing this report.
Sources hinted to our correspondent last night that APC governors were considering the possibility of meeting to take a position on the issue and communicate it to President Buhari within the week for a final decision.
Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from the national leadership of the party were unsuccessful as party officials neither answered their phone calls nor responded to text messages sent to them on the matter.
Buhari should pick party chair – Stakeholders
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Concerned Stakeholders Forum has written to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to pick a credible candidate for the office of national chairman ahead of the February national convention of the party.
The forum, in a letter dated February 11, 2022, addressed to the president and made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, also appealed to Buhari to scrutinise the political credentials of various aspirants and consider picking the party’s next chairman from the North Central.
According to the letter signed by the convener of the forum, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, picking a consensus chairman by President Buhari would douse tension and stabilise the party after the convention.
Part of the letter reads: “Judging by the activities of the various actors, we appeal to Mr President not to allow the selfish interest of the 2023 presidential ambition of some ranking members to destroy the party.
“We urge Mr President to recommend a highly committed and disciplined member, a man of humility and resilience with acute knowledge of party administration that will respect both former and serving governors, senators, ministers, and party faithful.
“Your Excellency Sir, in recommending a candidate for the national chairmanship position which may bring about consensus, we advise Mr President to look into the records of the various individuals aspiring to lead the party, owing in mind the internal zoning arrangement of the party which is in North Central Nigeria.
“This will go a long way in reducing internal crises in the party, controlling the expenditure of some aspirants, and solving the problem of reconciliation after the national convention. “
