APC Governors Move To Forestall Convention Crisis

In preparations of the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), governors are meeting on Wednesday to agree on candidates for National Working Committee (NWC) positions.

Signs emerged yesterday that the governors will present a list of consensus candidates to President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to a confidential source, the governors are unhappy with the discordant tunes in some zones over some candidates.

Meanwhile, all APC governors have been notified of the meeting, which will take place on Wednesday night.

However, the source gave an insight into some issues to be put into consideration by the governors, including the following:

The Zoning Formula – whether it should be retained or not;

should there be a total overhaul of the NWC, led by outgoing National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun?

Won’t it help party cohesion to have a mixed grill of the Oyegun team and new NWC members?

How to accommodate the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) Caucus to stave off defection;

Setting up a NWC to make Buhari’s re-election possible.

Suitable and acceptable candidates for seven key positions, including eight national chairman, National Secretary, Deputy National Chairman(North);  Deputy National Chairman(South); National Organizing Secretary, National Publicity Secretary; National Women Leader and National Youth Leader; and forestalling plot to disqualify some key contestants.

A governor, who spoke with The Nation last night, said: “We have just been notified of a meeting of the APC governors on Wednesday night in Abuja on how to work out a rancour-free National Convention and build consensus on some candidates.

“We have differences but we will no doubt engage in horse-trading; bend backwards to accommodate each other and go to the convention ground without ill-feelings.

“Some governors would want the party to retain the present zoning formula; others have made a case for an NWC that will have a mixture of those with Oyegun and new members; and a few others have asked APC members to sack all NWC members. We want to hold frank talks and adopt a principle of give and take.”

Another governor stated: “We want to correct the mistakes of the past. This is why we are meeting on Wednesday and we are hopeful that all will be well.”

The source also noted that the President and some of national leaders,  have opted for ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole for national chairman. “But suddenly, some governors and party chieftains have been fingered in the aspiration of both ex-Governor Clement Ebri and ex-Governor Oserheimen Osunbor. We do not want anyone to disrespect the President,” the source said.

“The feelers from the North-East, which is the stronghold of the President, are also not good on the choice of National Secretary. The contestants for the office are the incumbent, Mallam Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); Alhaji Kashim Imam (Borno); Buhari’s ardent supporters, Waziri Bulama; and Dr. Haruna Yerima.

“Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is insisting on the retention of Buni but some strategists of the President are opposed to him. As at Sunday, all the North-East governors and APC leaders in Taraba State have built a consensus on Buni based on the persuasion of Gaidam.

“Members of the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) and some presidential strategists are pushing for Bulama in order to enable the President to have a firm control of the party ahead of 2019.

“If the President does not abide by the choice of the North-East governors, they might pay lip service to his re-election in 2019. What is paining the governors is alleged plot by ex-Governor Modu Ali Sheriff to make his close ally, Kashim Imam, National Secretary.