A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has snubbed the zoning arrangement of the top echelon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and purchased his expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the party’s national chairmanship ahead of its national convention slated for March 26.
The party has pegged its expression of interest and nomination forms for the office of national chairman at N20 million.
- NIGERIA DAILY: Will There Really Be Independent Candidacy In Nigeria?
- P-Square, Davido, Other Celebrities Lament Hardship In Nigeria
Yari, an APC bigwig from the North West, had obtained his forms despite the zoning of the party’s chairmanship slot to the North Central by the national leadership of the party.
In an interview with newsmen, Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, who led the pro-Yari delegation to obtain the forms, said their action was premised on the grounds that the office of national chairman was zoned to the North.
When reminded that the position was zoned to the North Central, Kaura said his group was not aware of that, adding that the issue of zoning was yet to be totally resolved.
Kaura said, “We have just purchased the form for Sen Abdulaziz Yari to contest for the position of the party’s national chairman.”
Reacting to the development in an interview with newsmen at the end of the party’s caretaker committee meeting, APC spokesman Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed said, “Zoning is a guide but it’s not in the Constitution of the APC so members of the party have the right to contest.”
Similarly, the Director General of the Adamu Campaign Organisation, Lawrence Onuchukwu, who obtained the forms for the former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, told newsmen that media reports that President Buhari had endorsed Adamu are a boost to his aspiration.
“If that rumour is anything to go by, it is a boost for us. Mr President as a man of integrity, I’m sure will not want to associate himself with someone who does not have the capacity to actualise the vision of this party.
“And you are also aware that we must not pretend that the party has some challenges and you need an administrator, a politician, you need a person who can handle the part,” he said.
The APC spokesman, Barrister Ismaeel noted that five chairmanship aspirants have already picked their forms, saying, “This is encouraging. The convention plan is moving in full speed.”
Meanwhile, a group within the APC known as the New Generation Forum (NGF) has asked delegates to the national convention of the party to make their choice of the party’s next national chairman wisely.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the National Coordinator, Comrade Charles Ibiang, said Adamu would stabilise the party if given the mandate.
He said: “Based on our wide consultations with stakeholders in the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu remains the best option for the office of APC national chairman, taking a look at his track record of achievements in politics both at the local and national levels.”
Our correspondent reports that Malam Saliu Mustapha, Senator George Akume and Senator Sani Musa have picked the forms for the chairmanship position. Mustapha was the first to pick the form on Tuesday.
Saawua Terzungwe & Onyekachukwu Obi
