* Confusion, protest trail inauguration of APC State Chairmen
*At last, party writes INEC over February 26 Convention
By Chuks Akunna and Ezeocha Nzeh
Peace remained elusive in the ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) three weeks to its planned National Convention, as protesters Thursday besieged the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
This is even as it emerged yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari has blacklisted anyone being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to lead the party.
Presidency sources told The AUTHORITY that President Buhari is worried about reports that some persons being investigated for allegedly stealing public funds could end up leading APC, a party that promised Nigerians to fight corruption.
At least six of the aspirants are former governors, and have one time or the other been grilled by the EFCC for allegedly misappropriating public funds under their stewardship. Some of them have not been formally charged by the anti-graft agency.
This development has fuelled anxiety among APC faithful.
They fear that electing candidates on the EFCC watchlist would inevitably pose a dilemma for the agency, as the EFCC would be bound by political considerations to discontinue investigations.
The sources said President Buhari was unhappy with media reports that his government was backing corrupt people, and would use the upcoming APC national convention to prove them wrong.
Speaking exclusively with The AUTHORITY, Convener of the APC Coalition for Free Speech, Comrade Bologi Ndanusa, said it was laughable that a party that promised Nigerians “change” and a break from the past was still toying with the idea of bringing back the same erstwhile PDP chieftains who ruined Nigeria to lead APC.
He stated that “most of the six aspirants under EFCC investigation were at one time or the other neck-deep in the PDP”, stressing, “we don’t want people “who run with the hare and hunts with the hounds.”
Noted Bologi, “we shouldn’t project ourselves as a party of fraudsters.
“We rode into power on the mantra of change. Change from the past. Change from PDP. Nigerians believed us and gave us that trust. Why should we breach that trust by going back in time to bring back the same PDP people who created the same problems we are trying to solve?
“Take a look at the credentials of those aspiring to lead our great party. Aside one or two of them, they are a pack of ravenous wolves coming to use the office of the APC national chairman to shield selves from inevitable prosecution for the monies they stole as governor.
“Does it mean we can’t do better? Are we so short in the supply of men of character that we have to go back to our vomit to pick candidates that would lead us.
“What are we going to tell Nigerians: that the same person we said ruined the country are now back to lead us in APC? God forbid!” he remarked.
The youth leader equally frowned at the chairmanship aspiration of the senator representing Niger-East Senatorial Zone and sponsor of the controversial ‘Protection from Internet Falsehoods and Manipulation and Other Related Matters Bill, 2019’ popularly known as “Anti-Social Media” bill, Sani Musa, who is also in the race.
Bologi said it was morally wrong for Sani, who he said sought to muzzle free speech to turn around to ride on the back of the same free speech to lead the largest party in Africa.
“Look at the way the opposition PDP conducted their national convention. They went back in time to bring original founders of the party to lead them.
“Look at Modu Sheriff and Yuguda. We’ve lost count on the number of times these rolling stones changed party.”
* Confusion, protest trails inauguration of APC State Chairmen
In another development, the confusion at APC got worse as the Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), commenced the process of its February 26 National Convention with the inauguration of its elected state chairmen, who would form part of the delegates for the convention.
The inauguration, which was performed Thursday at the party’s headquarters was not devoid of protest as representatives of factional executives and other aggrieved members stormed the party’s headquarters protesting.
But to ensure that the inauguration exercise was not disrupted, the CECPC requested for heavy presence of security operatives to prevent the protesters from gaining access, and barricaded the entire Blantyre Crescent where the APC headquarters is situated.
*Party writes INEC
The February 26 date for the convention may have also been sealed following the official notification of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the CECPC.
A letter to the effect dated 2nd January 2022 was conveyed to INEC on Thursday morning, sources close to the commission confirmed to The AUTHORITY.
Part of the letter which was obtained by our correspondent, with Reference Number, APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/022/14, and jointly signed by the CECPC Chairman and Secretary, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state and Sen. John Akpan Udedehe respectively, stated that the party has scheduled to hold its National Convention on Saturday, February 26.
It reads: “This serves as a formal notification pursuant to the provision of the Section 85 of the Electoral Act (2010) as amendment.
“kindly arrange for your officials to monitor the exercise accordingly, while hoping to receive your cooperation”.
The convention is however coming amidst concerns of crisis in the various states, following the parallel congresses that trailed the election of state executive Committee
A ranking member of the CECPC who also expressed his concerns confirmed to The AUTHORITY that the reconciliation committee was yet to achieve the desired results in Abia, Kano, Sokoto and Kwara states.
“We have officially communicated INEC and that means that the February 26 date is sacrosanct. This puts to rest all media speculations about the National Convention.
” The CECPC has achieved a lot and we mean well for the party. You can see the high powered defectors we have attracted for our party since the past 18 months. I can say that we will hand over a stronger APC to the incoming NWC.
“We have achieved a lot of reconciliation through the Sen. Abdullah Adamu-led committee.
“Several aggrieved stakeholders have been reconciled and they have embraced peace in their various states, for the interest of the party.
“I can’t tell you that it is only in states like Abia, Sokoto, Kano and Zamfara that we can say we are yet to achieve full reconciliation, ” the CECPC member stated
*No zoning yet in APC – Chieftain
The APC chieftain also confirmed to our correspondent that contrary to speculation, the party has not arrived at any zoning formula ahead of the convention, stating that it is still waiting for its leader, president Muhammadu Buhari to approve the zoning of national offices
“The horse trading is too much and decisions on zoning of offices is beyond the CECPC.
“We are still waiting for our leader, president Muhammadu Buhari to take a position on that.
“Right now, I cannot confirm to you which zone will produce what position. But I can assure you that that issue will be settled amicably, “he stated.
*APC state chairmen inaugurated
Inaugurating the State APC chairmen, after a marathon meeting of the CECPC, Chairman of the Committee, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, tasked them to promote unity among party members in their various states, even as he urged them to carry all stakeholders along in the spirit of the reconciliation that has taken place in most states.
Responding, Chairman of the State APC Chairmen Forum, Hon. Bukar Dalori of Borno State, said: “You are a great example to all of us and in the next few weeks, we shall be learning from you, the magic that brought Governors and other political bulldozers to the party.
“There was a joke among party members that when you see Gov. Mai Mala Buni with an opposition leader, APC is about to witness an influx.
“How you do it without noise, makes it even more commendable. It is in the interest of all party leaders and members to give you the deserved support. You are a blessing to our party.
“We have taken your charge in good faith and like soldiers, we shall be unrelenting in marching our party to a commanding and convincing victory in 2023”.
The inaugurated state chairmen included: Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu (Abia), Alh Ibrahim Bilal (Adamawa), Mr Augustine Enefiok Ekanem (Akwa Ibom), Hon Basil Ejike (Anambra), Alh Babayo Aliyu Misau (Bauchi), Dr. Dennis Otiotio (Bayelsa), Mr Augustine Agada (Benue), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno), and Mr. Alphonsus Orgar Eba Esq. (Cross River).
Others are Elder Omeni Sabotie(Delta), Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha (Ebonyi), retired Col David Imuse (Edo), Barr. Omotosho Paul Ayodele (Ekiti), Chief Ogochukwu Agballah (Enugu), Mr Nitte K Amangal (Gombe), Dr Macdonald Ebere (Imo), Hon. Aminu Sani Gumel (Jigawa), Air Cdre Emmanuel Jekada (Rtd) (Kaduna), Alh. Muhammed Sani (Katsina), Alh. Abubakar Muhammed Kana (Kebbi) and Hon. Abdullahi Bello (Kogi).
Others include Prince Sunday Adeniran Fagbemi (Kwara), Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi (Lagos), Mr John D Mamman (Nasarawa), Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro (Niger), Chief Yemi Sanusi (Ogun), Engr Ade Adetimehin (Ondo), Prince Adegboyega Famodun (Osun), Hon Isaac Omodewu (Oyo), Hon Rufus Bature (Plateau), Chief Emeka Bekee (Rivers). Hon Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi (Taraba), Alh Muhammed A. Gadaka (Yobe), Alh. Tukur Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) and Alh. Abdulmalik Usman (FCT).
