Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairmanship race and chances of the aspirants at the convention.

Seven are in the race for now. More may still join. Few may also withdraw along the line. But, the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention itself has remained elusive.

Although the unelected National Caretaker Committee, led by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, has unfolded plans for ward, local government and state congresses, the fate of the national congress is hanging in the balance.

What actually is delaying the convention?

Reminiscent of how Military President Ibrahim Babangida was postponing the handover date, tinkering with the transition programme and changing the goal post amid the game,the tenure of the Buni Committee had been extended thrice. The latest extention of the tenure of the interim committee is worrisome as it is indefinite. This has fuelled speculations about an inexplicable hidden agenda.

The chairmanship aspirants, nevertheless, rely on hope, the elixir of life. The seven are from the North. This may give a vague idea of imminent rotation or zoning, both of the chairmanship and the presidency.

Former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Almakura has not publicly declared his intention. But, party sources said the chieftain of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is a strong contender. A source said:”The president is always a fan of his old allies.” It could not be ascertained whether he will also emerge as the candidate of the APC Governors’ Forum.

Fifty eight year old Senator Sani Musa, who hails from Paikoro in Niger State, has embarked on extensive consultation and mobilisation. A loyal party man, Musa has been described as a man of integrity. He is a one-time governorship contender in Niger State, a delegate to the National Convention, and a member of the APC Presidential Election Campaign Committee for 2019.

The senator had canvassed the revolution of the electoral system through the use of the card reader and Permanent Voter’s Card. Many have described him as a bridge builder who possess high inter-personal skills.

In the Senate, he had served on some committees, including Appropriation, Petroleum Resources, Foreign and Local Debts and Water Resources. In the APC, he had served as member of NEC, Contact and Strategic Committee, and Constitution Review Panel.

In 2015, he was arrested, but refused to divulge any confidential information on the card reader. The Business Administration graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he was the President of Zodiac, served as Special Adviser on Investment and Infrastructure in Niger State; director of Niger State Development Company Limited, Chairman, Task Force on Environmental Management and Managing Director, First Pacific Nigeria Limited. He also obtained a Certificate in Conflict Analysis from the United States Institute of Peace. Musa is held in esteem in the senate as an organised, dedicated, passionate and hardworking politician. He is said to be goal oriented, focussed and patriotic.

Former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu is a party elder endowed with experience. He is a no-nonsense politician. He knows his onions. After serving as governor for eight years, he was elected senator. In 2007, he was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Another aspirant is the eminent politician from Gombe State, former Governor Danjuma Goje, former Minister of State for Steel Development and now, senator. He is also a former PDP chieftain; bold and fearless.

Former Borno State Governor Modu Sheriff served as a senator before becoming governor in 2003. He served for two terms. He defected from the APC to PDP, where he was briefly the national chairman. There were allegations that he wanted to use the position as a stepping stone to the realisation of his presidential ambition. When he was shoved aside as chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi became the PDP caretaker chairman. Some months ago, Sheriff retraced his steps to the APC.

Mohammed Mustapha hails from Gambari District in the Ilorin East local government area of Kwara State. He is 48 years old.

He has distinguished himself in business, politics and humanitarian services. He founded the Saliu Mustapha Foundation to serve as a platform for human empowerment and community development.

Mustapha is a former deputy national chairman of CPC. He played a role in the merger of the CPC with other tendencies that gave birth to the APC. He was a signatory to the merger agreement on behalf of the CPC in the coalition. Before he became the deputy chairman of the CPC, he had served as an Ex-Officio and a foundation NEC member of the party.

He was the National Publicity Secretary of the Progressive Liberation Party (PLP) between 2001 and 2002 under the leadership of Dr. Ezekiel Ezeogwu. In 2003, Mustapha and other like-minds formed the Progressive Action Congress (PAC). He was the National Publicity Secretary of the party. He was a member of The Buhari Organisation (TBO) and the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO).

APC is in a dilemma. Consensus building appears difficult. There are internal contradictions. There are divisions. Can these pave the way for a peaceful convention?

Former Borno State Governor Modu Sheriff served as a senator before becoming governor in 2003. He served for two terms. He defected from the APC to PDP, where he was briefly the national chairman. There were allegations that he wanted to use the position as a stepping stone to the realisation of his presidential ambition. When he was shoved aside as chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi became the PDP caretaker chairman. Some months ago, Sheriff retraced his steps to the APC.

Amotolongbo:
The crown fits this man

nairavsdollars:
I pity Tinubu in all this

nairavsdollars:
I pity Tinubu in all this

nairavsdollars:
I pity Tinubu in all this

nairavsdollars:
I pity Tinubu in all this

OkoNDOoBo:
shut up.
Tinubu Acn caucus re the strongest in APC. Tinubu caucus have 70% of the party govs, national assembly lawmakers ,including the senate president and the speaker of house of representative.

The anti Tinubu elements re not even up to 20%. The rest re neutral.
El-rufai, badru, lalong, bagudu, fayemi re the governors that want to hijack the party structure but they don't have the numbers to do so thats while they re postponing the convention.

Buni their puppet can postpone to whatever time ,maybe to wait for other pdp govs to defect so that their meagre numbers can increase

On the day of convention asiwaju camp will whoop their ass

nairavsdollars:
I pity Tinubu in all this

mrvitalis:

70% LMAO the way una dey talk eh

Even in south west ondo and ekiti governors are against tinubu , umiah dey tinubu camp ,abi na hope , abi na ayeda ? Abi na bello ? Abi na brono way be cpc to the bone or zamfara that's CPC ? Abu elrufai ? Abi na nassarawa governor that's CPC ? Or is it gombe ? Or yobe ? Even ganduje go betray when the time comes

North do not trust any one in the south with power ...this generation must implement RUGA if not they have failed the jihad

OkoNDOoBo:
lies Akeredolu is no longer with fayemi camp. When last did you see them together akeredolu has been lambasting FG including some top Buhari appointees like garba sheu malami and gambari. When buhari came to lagos did you see akeredolu among the govs that welcomed him?
Umahi ko umahia ni. Whe re talking of meat bone sef dey commot body.
Borno state is the number one loyalist of asiwaju in north. Infact he hs commissioned several projects during shettima time and the incumbent.

All the south west APC govs apart from fayemi re asiwaju.

Edo APC led by oshomole,delta APC led by omo agege, bayelsa Apc led by timipre sylva,udoedehe member of caretaker commitee from akwa ibom has been with asiwaju since apc days.

Kwara led by lai mohammed and rilwan.
Benue APC led by George akume,
Nasarawa led by almakura
Niger sanni bello

Kano Apc led by ganduje.
Sokoto APC led by wammako tambuwal godfather.
Zamfara apc led by yari, and marafa
Kastinaapc led masari.
Adamawa APC led by SGf, ribadu, and aisha buhari.
Yobe led by senate president lawan.

The list is endless.
If the anti tinubu elements believe they have hijack the structure so what is stopping them from go into convention

mrvitalis:

I laugh ooh

I laugh big time

OkoNDOoBo:
ipob yoot Tinubu is your biggest nightmare

mrvitalis:

I laugh ooh

I laugh big time

ThatFairGuy1:
Why the pity please?

With no contender from South West, This is to say APC Presidential ticket is indirectly zoned to South West, so why pitying Tinubu please?

kcnwaigbo:

Did you see any contender from the NW/SE/SS? How exactly do you think it has been zoned to the SW?