… As Governors push for another tenure elongation
As the elongated tenure of the Governor Mai Mala Buni led National Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ends on Friday, June 25, there has been underground push by the committee to secure a second tenure elongation
The AUTHORITY check reveals that the committee had earlier prepared time table for the conduct of Ward, Local government and State primaries, which will produce the delegates for the National Convention to elect the party’s new National Working Committee (NWC)
The caretaker committee, which was inaugurated on June 25 2020 with a six months mandate to reconcile the party in the midst of crisis that trailed the leadership of the APC under former National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, was later granted another six months extension to enable them complete the series of reconciliation moves they initiated.
The governors who were in a crisis meeting with the caretaker committee chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state and his Secretary, John AkpanUdoedehe, it was gathered, deliberated for over two hours before they all left the party’s Secretary for the villa, where they were said to consult with the Presidency.
This is even as some party stakeholders have expressed concern that the APC stands the risk of losing its candidate for the November 16, Anambra state governorship elections, if the current Caretaker Committee endorses a candidate’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after June 25, when their tenure is expected to elapse
At the closed door crisis meeting which held for about two hours at the APC National Secretariat were Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Kebbi State governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu, governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, and Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is also the chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), together with Caretaker Committee Chairman and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni at the National Secretariat of the party, Senator John AkpanUdoedehe
It would be recalled that the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), had earlier passed a Vote of Cconfidence on the Governor Buni led Committee
The Governors noted that the Congress time table which was presented to them by the committee has been forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for adoption.
The AUTHORITY gathered however that majority of the Progressive Governors have begun underground lobbying to secure another six months tenure elongation for the committee
None of the governors spoke to the media after the meeting, but they were said to have moved to the Villa to see the President, Muhammadu Buhari to present their position.
It would be recalled also that the caretaker committee received a boost last Tuesday, when an Abuja High Court declared it legal as against the position of some party stakeholders
The governors who moved for the first extension of the Caretaker’s tenure are still the ones moving to have another extension.
In passing the vote of Confidence, the Chairman of the PGF said, “The Yobe state Governor and his CECPC Committee members have succeeded in attaracting serving and former Governors, Senators, House of Representatives members as well as other notable opposition figures to the party. They have also helped in stabilizing the All Progressives Congress and midwife a successful membership drive to make the party the biggest)
