By Temidayo Akinsuyi

Unlike their colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not be in prime position to determine, who becomes the national chairman of the party at its national convention, Daily Independent has gathered.

The 13 PDP governors played a huge role in the emergence of Iyorchia Ayu, a former Senate President, as the national chairman-elect of the party at the recently concluded national convention at Eagles Square in Abuja.

They also ensured that most of the candidates that emerged as members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were produced by consensus.

Attempts by some retired generals and elders in the par­ty to also produce Prince Ola­gunsoye Oyinlola, former Osun State governor as the deputy national chairman (South) was also countered by the governors who backed Taofeek Arapaja, the South-West zonal chairman for the position.

At the end of the contest, Arapaja was declared winner after polling 2,004 votes while Oyinlola could only garner 705 votes.

When asked if that scenario may play out in APC, a mem­ber of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CE­CPC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there is no way APC governors can hijack the convention like their PDP counterparts.

According to him, unlike the PDP where there is no rallying leader, the APC has a leader in President Muhammadu Bu­hari and Asiwaju Bola Tinu­bu, former Lagos State gover­nor, who is the party’s national leader.

He said APC governors can­not take any decision without first seeking the approval of the two and whoever they back for the position will eventually clinch it.

“Yes, it was easy for the PDP governors to have their way be­cause they don’t have a leader. Of a truth, who is the leader of PDP? Some people will tell you it is Governor (Nyesom) Wike, others will tell you it is Atiku Abubakar. Others will tell you it is Aminu Tambuwal, who is the chairman of the PDP Gov­ernors’ Forum.

“Some will tell you retired Generals are the ones in charge of the party. But look at their convention. The retired Gener­als said they wanted Oyinlola, PDP governors said they want­ed Arapaja and eventually, the governors had their way.

“That cannot happen in APC. The two leaders in APC are President Buhari and Tinu­bu. They founded this party and they are firmly in charge. There are also other leaders like Papa Bisi Akande and Ogbonnaya Onu. If they say, this is the way we are going, what the APC governors can do is to come together and advise them and present their position. But they cannot say we are going in oth­er direction. Never.

“So, what happened in PDP cannot happen in APC. The governors can determine par­ty leaders in the NWC from their states but the position for national chairman will be determined by the leaders of the party.”

Daily Independent also gathered that there are silent moves by the Congress for Pro­gressives Change (CPC) camp belonging to President Buhari and the Action Congress of Ni­geria (ACN) to produce the next national chairman, as it is be­lieved that the person will play a major role in who clinches the party’s presidential ticket.

Our source, who belongs to the Tinubu camp, said, “We are for Asiwaju (Tinubu). We will back whoever he endorses for the position. I don’t know who President Buhari is backing but it is strongly believed that he wants someone from his camp, that is from the CPC faction.

“Those who are frontline runners are Tanko Al-Makura, former governor of Nasarawa State; George Akume, former Benue State governor, who is now the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmen­tal Affairs; Saliu Mustapha, a former Deputy National Chair­man of the CPC: Senator Sani Musa, lawmaker representing Niger East Senatorial district in the National Assembly and Abdulaziz Yari, former Zam­fara State governor.

“There may be others but these are the ones who have in­dicated interest for now. Also, a dark horse that many people may not know may emerge, just like how Iyorchia Ayu emerged in PDP when people had thought the South will pro­duce the national chairman.

“Left to Buhari, he will pre­fer Al-Makura or Mustapha because of CPC connection but left to the cabals they may per­suade him to support Musa, the senator from Niger. For a man in the Senate to come out and say he wants to contest for na­tional chairman, it means some people have given him backing.

“Akume is Asiwaju’s man. They are good friends and were governors from 1999 till 2007. The coast is not clear and we don’t know yet if he is the one Asiwaju will back.”

On why the party has not yet fixed a date for its national con­vention, he said, “Opposition party usually takes things se­rious than ruling party. Ruling party is always lackadaisical be­cause they have resources and power. They are not always in a hurry like a party that is seri­ously looking for power. I think that is what is happening in APC”.

No date has been fixed for the national convention of the ruling party and recently, there were reports that some power­brokers in the party who want the party’s Caretaker Commit­tee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State to complete the tenure of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the immediate past national chairman are pushing for the convention to hold in June 2022.

According to them, the Caretaker Committee should be allowed to stay in office till June 2022 so as to complete the four-year mandate given to the Oshiomhole who was elected as national chairman on June 23, 2018, but sacked two years after.

https://independent.ng/apc-convention-why-govs-wont-determine-who-becomes-national-chairman/

Wike, installer and remover of Secondus is PDP leader

Keep deceiving yourself ... Mai Mala Buni led cabal will determine who will get what, how and when at APC National Convention, just watch out.

Sure

Buhari will sentimentally appoint one incompetent person like Malami, and that will be the end of APC.

except Buhari is not interested because he is not contesting again. whoever he wants will become chairman

Maxymilliano:
Keep deceiving yourself ... Mai Mala Buni led cabal will determine who will get what, how and when at APC National Convention, just watch out.

Ok

This ones will soon scatter

Northerners will want to side line southerners........I pray another calamity doesn't befall Nigeria.......enof is enof

Lol

Na their Problem. If no be southerner we no want anybody as president

Power belongs to God

When the Party is not made of paper weight and newbies politicians, how could that be possible!

Talk Talk talk
We are Watching

Dear Apc Stalwarts,
Unless Tinubu has no interest in contesting for the number one seat. Sooner or later the governors will determine who becomes the chairman because Tinubu would step down from his high hills to ganer the needed support from the governors. It happened to Anini also same fate befell Oshomole when He thought he has the presidents backing.

HOLLY GRAM REAL MATTERS. WTF MAN

Hygienebase:
Power belongs to God

This is "politics" not "religion"..

Hope you had a good night rest..like if you did..share if you didn't..

I pray for a better Nigeria for all...

Its good to be back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Self induced though. The president will direct in conjunction with BAT.

Anyone who does not belong to any party of group but is interested in 2023 elections should better start strategising now.
Not when the political gladiators have perfect that plans already.
And please don't let your Greed and Hatred blind your reasoning.

Remember when "We" sent Adeosun packing, she was replace by another person who made our economy the "Best" in the World and turn "our" around.

#Peace

Hmm

thank you jare. That is what many of them will say and will not come out and vote end up with Yaya Bello as president in 2023

Rydermaverick:

This is "politics" not "religion"..

whoever Buhari wants will get it. Do you know how they fear that man in APC?

88natzy:
Dear Apc Stalwarts,
Unless Tinubu has no interest in contesting for the number one seat. Sooner or later the governors will determine who becomes the chairman because Tinubu would step down from his high hills to ganer the needed support from the governors. It happened to Anini also same fate befell Oshomole when He thought he has the presidents backing.

Apc is a party of oppression,suffering and does not have a meaningful plan for Nigerians expcially the southern youths.
They are stylishly turning everybody to bambiallah with their useless economic policies.
It’s now a crime to Trade crypto’s or have any application on phones.
If you are living well in this administration,be ready to be arrested by EFCC as they want to have their own share but can’t find out the root course of poverty in the country.
All our lawyers are now useless,gone are the days when a lawyers like Gani Fawehinmi were well respected and outspoken ,the lawyers we have now have all been been relegated and turn to bench warmers.The fortunate once among them are just mere charge and bail lawyers.Human right activists are totally inconsequential,useless,non living things.
Salary remains the same but the prices of food stuffs and commodities keeps increasing.
Most of our graduates are jobless and our girls are now going into full time prostitution.
This oppression is getting too much and the Apc as a party needs to be challenged.

this report is a joke. the governors are still very influencial just a little less influential than the cabal. APC has only one leader who is buhari. I don't see tinubu wielding the kind of power this reporter ascribed to him
Hello, I am a fullstack web developer. I develop all types of website. I major in developing complex custom website and mobile apps for businesses and startups. If you have an idea and need a competent programmer to translate your idea into codes, I am the right man for the job.
I also have a nice real estate website for sale specially designed for the Nigerian market
Click my username to see my WhatsApp number on my profile

.