State governments and other interest groups have begun drawing up their list of delegates for the National Conference, ahead of the nominations deadline on Thursday.
The Federal Government on January 30 announced modalities and composition for the conference, which will have 472 delegates.
State governors are to nominate three members each, and where they failed to do that, President Goodluck Jonathan would nominate on their behalf.
Daily Trust learnt that the Adamawa State Government, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) have already drawn up their list of delegates.
According to a senior Adamawa government official, the nominees from the state are former Inspector General of Police Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta, former Secretary to the State Government Mr. Moses Mbale and former House of Representatives member Binta Massi Garba.
Adamawa is one of 16 states controlled by the APC. The fact that the state government has drawn up a list is hinting at a possible backpedalling by the party, which had earlier said its states would not participate in the conference.
Among those to be nominated by the NLC are its president Abdulwaheed Omar; deputy presidents Promise Adewusi, Joe Ajaero and Kiri Mohammed; Vice President Issah Aremu; Acting General Secretary Chris Uyot; Chief Economist of Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson; and chair of the NLC Women Commission, Lucy Offiong.
A source at NLC said nominees for the remaining four slots were yet to be decided on by the end of last week.
For its part, TUC, which also has 12 slots like the NLC, is to nominate its president Bobboi Kaigama (Northeast), First Deputy President Comrade Sunday Salako (Southwest), Second Deputy President Comrade Austin Etafo (South-south) and Third Deputy President Comrade Bede Okpara (Southeast), Secretary General Musa Lawal and Woman Leader Oyinka Olasanoye.
Also to represent TUC will be its erstwhile president Peter Esele, who was chosen “because of his experience”, according to an official of the congress.
Daily Trust learnt that NPAN is nominating its president Mr. Nduka Ogbaibena and deputy president Kabiru A. Yusuf to the conference.
APC to decide this week
Meanwhile, the opposition APC yesterday said it would take a decision this week whether to send representation to the conference. APC spokesman Alhaji Lai Mohammed told Daily Trust yesterday the party would make its position known within the week.
Four parties that have representation at the National Assembly have been given two slots each for the conference.
Sources in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday the party’s list is likely to be ready for submission today.
National chairman of Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwayanwu, on his part, said the party would submit the names of it delegates before the expiration of the deadline.
Our correspondent learnt that the Chief Victor Umeh faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has decided on one person and was still trying to agree on the second name.
The APC states contacted yesterday said they were yet to make nominations.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, said: “The party has said it doesn’t believe in the confab and that it is a waste of time. That is our stand, we in Lagos don’t have anything contrary to that position of the party.”
The Sokoto State government is also yet to decide on whether to participate in the conference, said interim APC chairman Barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir.
He said the state was yet to consult people of like minds and that it was this consultation that would determine whether to send representatives to the conference.
In Kano, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is among governors critical of the conference, is yet to submit the list of the state’s delegates. The governor’s spokesman Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye said: “We have not submitted the list of Kano state delegates to the conference, if we have, it is going to be public and you will know.”
But a spokesman for the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said in a text message: “We will be nominating candidates. That is the only way we can have a say in the conference outcome.”
In Nasarawa, the government said it has not commenced the modalities to nominate delegates to the conference.
Information commissioner Hamza Elayo told Daily Trust that state government received a letter from the Federal Government requesting the nomination of three delegates from the state only on Thursday.
In Jigawa, Governor Sule Lamido last week met with members of the National Assembly over the conference. According to reliable sources, the governor gave the members the leverage to nominate three persons among themselves to represent the state. But the lawmakers asked the governor to nominate any persons of his choice and they would support the nominees.
Secretary to the Gombe State Government Abubakar Sule Bage told Daily Trust a list of the state’s delegation was still being compiled.
