By Ezeocha Nzeh
Contending stakeholders at the proposed march 26 National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will today know their fate as the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazak led committee of the ;party is expected to submit its report today on zon ing of national offices
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) had on Wednesday, announced the composition of an 8 man committee. Headed by Kwara state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to arrive at the zoning formula for its national offices, ahead of the March 26, National Convention
The committee came amidst report last week from the APC governors that it has agreed to swap all the National Working Committee (NWC) from the North to the South
Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El’rufai told journalists after the APC Governors meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari last week that the governors have agreed that all positions occupied by the North in the last NWC should be moved to the South, while the North takes over those that were held by the South
The CECPC in a statement issued by its National Secretary, senator John AkpanUdoedehe, also named Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege as Deputy Chairman while Deputy Governor of Anambra state, Nkem Okeke, will serve as Secretary.
Other me members of the panel include; Prof. Etim Nyong, Dr. MB Shehu, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, Sen. Teslim Folarin and Alh. Sadeeq Sule-Iko Sami.
The committee was given Monday to submit its report on the zoning of positions for the party’s next NWC, which will be ratified by the CECPC
The committees’ report is being expected amidst tension among the numerous aspirants, who believe that their zones may be short changed in their preferred offices.
The Zoning report would be submitted in variance with the zoning submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
A Caretaker Committee member had said that the zoning of NWC positions is a responsibilities if the CECPC.
In the Zoning of the PGF released by the governor of Kaduna State, the APC National Secretary is zoned to the South West and National Organizing Secretary zoned to North West, a situation which some members had frowned at.
According to them, the position of National Secretary should be zoned to South East or South South, while the position of National Organizing Secretary should be zoned to North East.
Other positions of the NWC that members are looking at for correction in the zoning of the PGF are the offices of the National Publicity Secretary and National Youth Leader. The two positions some party members believe should be swapped.
The submission of the zoning report and the publishing of same would commence the sales of Expression of interest nomination forms.
According to a party source, the sales of forms would not be made public as forms would be given to designated candidates.
The party would want to reduce acrimony by reducing the number of candidates that will purchase forms.
Meanwhile the Sub-committees would be inaugurated amidst uncertainties tomorrow (Today).
There were rumours that the National Convention might be shifted.
The AUTHORITY gathered authoritatively that some aspirants have commenced ,moves to changed from their preferred NWC slots, even as they were yet to get the final ;position of the committee on zoning of NWC offices
It was also gathered that different unity lists have been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for endorsement, from different stakeholders, fuelling rumours of an imminent crisis among stakeholders, ahead of the convention.
For example, while it was reported that the APC Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) had insisted that there has been no zoning yet, the APC Governors Forum has come up with a the news of swapping party positions between the South and North
Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El’rufai told State House Correspondent last week at the villa that the Governors have approved the swapping of offices between the South and Southern zone of the country
This is even as there has been conflicting reports of zoning of the party’s National Secretary and Deputy Nation Chairman, South to the South East, South West and South South zones
While controversy has continued to grail the re[ported {President Muhammadu Buhari’s endorsement of former nasarawa State Governor, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, other aspirants have continued to lobby, even as it has become obvious that the position has been micro zoned to the North Central, which has over seven contenders
