Its National Chairman, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun, last night bowed to pressure from governors and party leaders to
forego tenure extension.
He has summoned an emergency meeting
of the National Working Committee (NWC) for 8am today to draw
the timetable for state congresses and National Convention.
The meeting will hold before the
National Executive Committee (NEC) session begins at 11am.
A member of the NWC said: “We were
all shocked to get a text message inviting us for NWC meeting
by 8am on Monday when all we were preparing for was the NEC
session.
“Some of us inquired and we were
told that the NWC meeting will draw the timetable for state congresses and the
National Convention for consideration by NEC. This was what we told him to do
last Thursday.
“We suspect that the latest
development must have accounted for Oyegun’s U-turn. From the horse-trading so
far, all the APC governors have backed out of tenure extension for Oyegun and
the NWC.
“We learnt the last governor to
ditch him yesterday was Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State.”
Another NWC member said: “I think
summoning NWC meeting very early in the morning before NEC amounted to panic on
the part of the national chairman.
“Some of us were really amazed when
we got the text message. This was the same Oyegun who did not allow us access
to the report of the Governor Simon Lalong Committee which was set up by the
NWC.
“We had the whole weekend, he did
not call for any meeting. Now, he wants to hold a pre-emptive meeting.
“We will go there and listen to what
he has in stock for us.”
There were talks last night that
Oyegun might seek to recontest based on some governors’ advice. But, it was not
clear if he would heed the advice.
If he does, he would have to jostle
for the seat again with former Governors Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Clement
Ebri (Cross River).
Investigation by our correspondent
revealed that pro-Buhari governors reached out to NEC members to accept his
proposal for elective congresses and National Convention.
As at Friday, no fewer than 21
governors and their state chairmen had conceded that the party should conduct
fresh election into party offices in order to avoid running into legal
technicality on the nomination of APC candidates for the 2019 polls.
A governor said he and his
colleagues chose to rally round President Muhammadu Buhari because his proposal
is the first major advice he would give to the party.
The governor said: “To me, I believe
the President is facing a major vote of confidence at the NEC meeting. The
issue is not about Oyegun or NWC members but it borders on the extent to which
we have respect for the President’s views.”
He went on: “Unlike other past
Presidents who will force their views on party members, Buhari was democratic
enough to render advice and ask party leaders to consider the pros and cons.
“If Buhari’s advisory is accepted,
it will be a sign that his voice counts. But where NEC rejects his proposal, he
would have lost the confidence of a key organ of the party.
“You can see why we have regarded
the NEC meeting as make or break. An endorsement of Buhari’s idea will also
foretell his chances in the party if he chooses to seek a second term ticket in
2019.
“So, some of us do not see it as one
person hijacking the party structure or not but as a major test of a vote of
confidence in Buhari.
“This is why we have prevailed on
him to stay behind and be part of the NEC meeting. We do not want any upset for
him as designed by some forces. The President has taken his political fortunes
for granted because of his new found democratic disposition but we have asked
him to take his destiny in his hands.”
Another source said: “The NEC
meeting will chart a new course for APC by confirming our ability to look
inward to address our challenges without rancour.
“If we get it right at the NEC
meeting, it will strengthen the party to prepare for the 2019 polls. Otherwise,
we may end up being divided.
“For a party that has barely existed
for four years, we cannot afford the luxury of derailing. This is why we are
saying that wise counsel must prevail.”
Our correspondent learnt last night
that pro-Oyegun governors and party leaders may be seeking “soft-landing” by
coming up with the concept of a “guided national convention” which will lead to
the return of some NWC members.
Another source said: “A few
governors are calling for a guided national convention by which the return of
some NWC members will be negotiated and delegates will be advised to vote for
them at the convention.
“They do not want to throw away the
baby with the bathwater. They believe some NWC members have done fairly well
and if their zones still want them, delegates should be asked to endorse them.
“So, instead of a complete overhaul
of NWC, the bad elements should go.”
But a NEC member said: “We won’t
accept guided convention in view of the manipulation we have gone through in
the past few weeks.
“At least, we have secured
two-thirds in support of Buhari’s proposal; we will go full blast for state
congresses and national convention.
“Any NWC member interested in
seeking re-election should canvass for votes. We have also decided that all
suits against tenure elongation will be withdrawn if Oyegun and the NWC members
concede to elective national convention.”
Another governor, who responded to The
Nation’s enquiry said: “We are no longer bothered about the tenure
extension debate, we are comparing notes among ourselves on the appointment of
the National Convention Committee.
“To some extent, the governors and
some leaders of the party have reached a consensus on the list of the
convention committee which will be presented to NEC.”
As at press time, it was learnt that
some governors were still making a case for Oyegun’s return to office.
A source in Oyegun’s camp said:
“Some governors have approached Oyegun to re-contest but he has not made up his
mind. I think the outcome of NEC session will determine his next step.”
But there were indications that
Oyegun’s return has been rejected by Edo APC which is insisting that he must
quit.
“The APC leaders in Edo actually do
not want Oyegun. In fact the state branch has filed a suit to oppose tenure
elongation.
“If Oyegun decides to re-contest, he
might fight for the slot with ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole and
ex-Governor Clement Ebri.
“I think Oshiomhole has an edge at
present,” said a Northwest governor.
Meanwhile, six APC governors have
been urged to support the President’s bid to reposition the party.
The Northcentral Media Support Group
for Buhari made the plea in a statement by its National coordinator, Ahmad
Tukur.
Tukur said the governors should
support the President at the NEC meeting.
He said: “We are confident that the
Northcentral will give the President every support that is why we are urging
our governors to go to NEC meeting with one voice to ensure that the decision
of Mr. President is supreme as the leader of the party.”
“Supporting the President from
Northcentral is a support from the country because the zone constitutes a mini
Nigeria.”
The group said the President
was doing his best to “ ensure that the right thing is done in
accordance with the provision of the law to see that APC leadership
is legally put in place.
“Buhari as the leader of the party
deserves every commendation for his effort to place the country among the
comity of nations that respects rule of law and the constitution.”
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