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APC Releases Convention Timetable: Party To Pick Chairman From 4 contenders, As Sale Of Form Start On February 14th

Ahead of the February 26 convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), top shots of the party including governors and those at the presidency have narrowed down on four of the contenders out of the many vying for the chairmanship seat, Hotmedia.ng gathered.

A reliable sources told Hotmedia.ng that President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors are looking at the direction of two former governors of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura and Senator Abdullahi Adamu; former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Saliu Mustapha; and former Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari to pick the national chairman of the party.

Senator Abdullahi Adamu chairs the party’s reconciliation committee and Bwari, who was a minister in Buhari’s first tenure, have not formally indicated their interest in the race.

Sources said a section of the presidency was considering them as likely successors to the Yobe State governor and caretaker chairman of the party, Mai Mala Buni.

Though the party has dispelled the report that it has zoned positions, the four aspirants who are being considered for the party’s plum position are from the North Central geopolitical zone.

One of the sources close to the presidency said the body language of the president favours the former Governor of Nasarawa State, Al-Makura.

Read Also : APC Chairmanship: Why APC Should Adopt Saliu Mustapha As Consensus Candidate – Ifeanyi Nwaudunna

“Though it is very difficult to read the president’s mind on this, his body language showed that he has preference for Al-Makura, who was the lone governor produced by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),” the source said.

It was further gathered that Al-Makura’s successor in Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has reached out to many of his colleagues to support his predecessor to pick the chairmanship seat.

“Governor Sule has reached out to many of his colleagues (governors) to support his candidate. You will recall that he started the campaign for him long before other aspirants indicated their interest,” a ranking lawmaker said.

But those who are against him have drawn the attention of his promoters to the issue of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was a guest of the EFCC alongside his wife, Mairo, on July 29, last year.

One of our correspondents gathered that some of the governors are pushing for the candidature of Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The former Nasarawa governor, who chairs the APC’s reconciliation committee, has not indicated interest in the race.

Those promoting him said the ranking lawmaker if given the opportunity, will conclude the reconciliation moves he has started. They said he has the capacity to lead the party to victory in 2023.

But another section in the party was priming Saliu Mustapha, who hails from Kwara State as the consensus chairmanship candidate. Mustapha, according to those promoting him has ‘’no baggage like the former governors.’’

However, the name of Abubakar Bawa Bwari, from Niger State, a former minister during Buhari’s first tenure propped up last night. He is yet to formally join the race.

Other contenders for the chairmanship seat include former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari; former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff; former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume (a former governor of Benue State); Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East); Sunny Moniedafe and Mohammed Saidu Etsu.

Read Also : Breaking: APC Confirms Convention Date February 26, Plans Consensus Chairman, As Al-Makura, Musa Lead In The Race

Meanwhile, the latest national chairmanship aspirant, Dr Sani Shinkafi, has said he would maintain the supremacy of the party at all levels if given the mandate at the convention.

He stated this Wednesday while speaking to newsmen at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. He equally promised to promote and strengthen internal democracy within the party.

President has final say

Two sources last night told Akelicious that despite the horse-trading, President Buhari will play a key role in the selection of the next chairman of the party.

One of the sources said, “The issue of consensus has been settled. What we are waiting for is who the candidate will be. Like in 2018, it is Mr President that will give the final approval. The governors may recommend but it is the president that will approve it.”

The second source said people around the president are pushing for the selection of one of the aspirants who are of the defunct CPC, founded by the president.

A chieftain of the APC from the North, Barrister Abdullahi Jalo said, “What is happening in the APC now, you can’t conclude but you can draw a line.

“The issue of who becomes the next national chairman will be decided by the governors. So, any aspirant that the governor’s support will certainly emerge,” he said. Another chieftain of the party from the South, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Al-Makura will be favoured.

Tight timetable

The party yesterday released a schedule of activities for its national convention.

The timetable was released shortly after the meeting of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

According to the schedule, the party would first receive the Interim Report of the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Abdullahi Adamu, on January 31.

It also indicated that consideration and adoption of reports of state congresses, the inauguration of state executives, sales of forms to all aspirants vying for national offices would take place on February 2, 3 and 14, 2022, among others.

The schedule was signed by the Secretary of the caretaker committee, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe.

Addressing newsmen earlier, Senator Akpanudoedehe, dismissed reports that the party has zoned its offices.

I’m here to debunk the fake news going round on the social media that we have zoned offices. We are yet to meet on the issue of zoning,” he said.

Observers told Hotmedia.ng the time frame earmarked by the party leadership for various activities was too short.

Read Also : 2023: Tinubu, Atiku, Osinbajo, Others Lost Out As NYCN President, Amb Sukubo Declares Youth Mandate, Insists Candidates Must Be Low 55yrs

Court adjourns Marafa’s case to Feb 17

A Zamfara State High Court has adjourned the case filed by Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa challenging the congress conducted by Governor Bello Matawalle’s APC faction to February 17.

The Presiding Judge of the court, Justice Bello Kucheri, said the case was adjourned to February 17 following some processes filed by the counsels to the defendants.

Speaking to journalists, one of the counsels to Senator Marafa, Barrister Misbahu Salawuddeen, said they were in the court to pray for the annulment of the congresses conducted by the Matawalle APC faction.

APC Releases Convention Timetable, Sale Of Forms Begins February 14

The All Progressives Congress has said it will begin the sale of forms for aspirants vying for its national positions ahead of the National Convention from February 14.

National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, announced this in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said, “The APC CECPC at its 19th regular meeting on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at the party’s National Secretariat considered and adopted the timetable/schedule of activities for the February 26, APC National Convention.”

According to him, the schedule of activities ahead of the party’s national convention is as seen below:

“Receiving of the interim report of the National Reconciliation Committee, January 31, 2022.

“Consideration and adoption of Reports of State Congresses – February 2, 2022.

“Inauguration of the State Executives – February 03, 2022.

“Sale of forms to all aspirants vying for National Offices at the APC National Secretariat, February 14, 2022.

“Submission of completed forms and accompanying documents at the APC National Secretariat on or before February 19, 2022.

“Publication of Sub-Committees – February 19, 2022.

“Screening of all aspirants vying for National Offices – February 20 – February 22.

“Screening Appeals to hear and resolve complaints arising from the screening exercise – February 23, 2022.

“Accreditation of all statutory and elected delegates to the National Convention – February 24 to February 25, 2022.

“National Convention to elect National Officers to the National Executive Committee – February 26, 2022.

“National Convention Appeal to hear and resolve complaints arising from the National Convention – February 28, 2022.”

Read Also : 2023: Ohanaeze Backs Amaechi For Igbo Presidency, As Buhari To Support Igbo Candidate In APC

The APC scribe, at an interaction with newsmen at the party’s National Secretariat, had earlier described as fake, reports that the party’s leadership had zoned its national chairmanship position to a particular zone.

Akpankudohede said the report should be disregarded, adding that there was no decision on that.

New national executives are expected to be elected at the party’s National Convention to manage its affairs which are presently being managed by Governor Mai Mala Buni-led CECPC.

 

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