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Former Nigeria Labour Congress president and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, has criticised the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria for escalating its disagreement with the Dangote Refinery into a nationwide shutdown of oil facilities, describing the move as hasty and unfair to other workers.

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Oshiomhole said while unions have the right to defend workers, they must do so in ways that do not create wider economic hardship.

“I think that in seeking to protect a particular set of workers, you do not then risk the jobs of several other workers. When you are pursuing a dispute, the tools you deploy must be such that they do not undermine other people’s jobs,” he said.

Oshiomhole noted that the oil union’s decision to shut down facilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other firms because of issues at Dangote was ill-considered.

“I suddenly witnessed long queues at filling stations and people came to me to ask, ‘why are we not at work today, what has happened to the oil industry?’ And the reason was that PENGASSAN had decided that NNPC be shut down, several other companies shut down, all because of a problem in one refinery,” he said.

Drawing from his experience as NLC president, Oshiomhole argued that disputes should be directed at the specific employer involved.

“We had a big battle with Union Bank of Nigeria over their policy on married couples working together. But even when we had the capacity to shut down all the banks, we didn’t. We recognised that the alleged offence of Union Bank could not be said to apply to others,” he recalled.

He also cautioned against rushing into strikes without considering their broader impact.

“In pursuing war, you have to recognise that the tools you deploy must not hurt innocent people, like the tomato sellers who cannot get fuel to move their goods because there is a quarrel between one refinery and one union,” Oshiomhole said.

While affirming that the right to unionise is fundamental, he urged balance.

“Freedom of association is not just a constitutional right, it is a God-given right. But with that freedom comes responsibility, both the employer and employee must exercise their rights in a way that is fair,” he said.

Oshiomhole added that new private sector investors like Dangote should be given time to stabilise before facing intense labour action.

“An employer has to exist, mature and be strong enough to guarantee good-paying jobs. If you cripple a business before it even finds its feet, you are also destroying the jobs you claim to protect,” he warned.

Dangote Refinery, commissioned in May 2023 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is Africa’s largest single-train refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.

PENGASSAN, one of the country’s two major oil unions, had last month ordered members to shut down operations in protest against perceived anti-labour activities at the refinery.

The action triggered fuel queues across several states, drawing criticism from government officials and industry players who warned it could worsen Nigeria’s energy supply chain.

The Supreme Court has affirmed the five-year jail term handed to a former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan by the Court of Appeal.

Lawan was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2021 for accepting $500,000 bribe from businessman, Femi Otedola, Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd.

In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel affirmed the 2022 judgment of the Court of Appeal which upheld Lawan’s sentencing to five years in respect of only count three on the three-count charge on which he was tried at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In the lead judgment prepared by Justice John Okoro but read on Friday by Justice Tijjani Abubakar, the apex count found that Lawan’s appeal was without merit and proceeded to dismiss it.

Chairman of Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, on Sunday said all is now set for the ruling party to hold its national convention.

The APC National convention is scheduled to hold on March 26, in Abuja.

He disclosed that the activities of the Protocols Subcommittee have instilled confidence in members that all is set for the biggest party in Africa to now hold its National Convention.

Buni, who was briefed by the Protocols subcommittee chairman and Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, at his residence in Abuja on Saturday night, noted that the committee has gingered pessimistic party members that the convention is going to hold on the slated date (March 26).

Governor Ganduje, in a statement issued by his Commissioner for Information and co-opted member of the committee, Malam Muhammad Garba, quoted Buni as assuring that the APC is organising a convention with a global outlook that calls for concerted efforts by all members.

Buni commended the Protocols subcommittee chairman, his vice and other members for doing a good job at the venue and ensuring that the party is organised ahead of the convention.

He said “the subcommittee is second to the main Convention Planning Committee, in view of its importance, which informed the appointment of Governor Ganduje to chair it alongside other illustrious members who have track records of achievements in their respective endeavours.”

He charged the committee to work in synergy with other committees, particularly with the Protocol Office, State House Abuja, in view of the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would be attending the convention.

The protocols Subcommittee chairman, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, told Buni that recruitment of young men and women who will serve as protocol officers and ushers during the national convention has been completed.

“The recruits are receiving training, which is part of the responsibilities of the Protocols committee.

“The committee has also been working to come up with a programme of event for a successful convention of the party,” Ganduje explained.

Ganduje thanked the chairman of the CECPC for finding him and other members of the committee worthy to serve.

He pledged to work with the central planning committee and other subcommittees to ensure that a successful convention is held.

Other members of the committee are Senator Godswill Akpabio, former governor of Akwa Ibom state and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Senator Adeleke Mamora, former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly and Minister of State for Health; Rep. Hafiz Kawu, Tarauni Federal Constituency; Head of Protocol unit of the APC; Abdullahi Shu’aibu, among others.

The cloud over the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for February 26 hung still last night with the party’s governors split into two camps.

The issues in contention are whether the convention should proceed as scheduled and which of the six geo-political zones should produce the party’s next national chairman.

Adding to the uncertainties was the emergence of a letter yesterday by some party members seeking offices at the convention to propose the postponement of the meeting.

Some party office holders dissociated themselves from the letter.

It was also gathered that many state chairmen of the party have gone underground to resist an attempt to coerce them to sign a document on convention shift.

This development, sources told The Nation, prompted the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to conclude plans to replace the Chairman of State APC Chairmen Forum, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno) with his Taraba State counterpart to force others in line to endorse postponement.

The pro-shift governors are said to have proposed that the CECPC should keep running the affairs of the party until after the conduct of the primaries for the 2023 polls.

The same forces have been trying in the last 72 hours to force the state chairmen of APC chapters to sign a communiqué to demand the postponement of the convention.

Most of the chairmen have gone underground to resist the coercion to sign a document on convention shift.

The governors also remain divided over the zone that will produce the next national chairman of the party.

Although the governors had conceded the slot to the North-Central, some governors reneged and opted to prevail on a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, from the North-East.

Most of the governors have however rejected the Dogara option by insisting on conceding the office to North-Central.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that most members of the Caretaker Committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni subscribed to the postponement of the convention, but it has been difficult for the committee to table it before the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).

It was learnt that the committee was afraid of a ‘likely revolt’ against the Buni-led committee.

Attempts by some governors to prevail on state APC chairmen to call for the postponement of the convention have also failed.

Most of the party chairmen at the state level are said to have “gone underground.”

Some governors supporting the retention of the Caretaker Committee and the postponement of the convention have not been able to gain the control of the PGF to achieve their aim.

A governor, who spoke in confidence, said: “The battle at hand is for the soul of the party. The CECPC members including Buni are in support of the postponement of the convention. It is emerging to all of us that Buni appears interested in the presidency in 2023.

“Buni’s personal, vaulting ambition is what’s driving him, but he doesn’t know how to even discuss this with us – his supposed allies who put him on the job

“All the governors are opposed to convention shift except Yahaya Bello (Kogi), who is a presidential aspirant, Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and Ben Ayade (Cross River).

“These anti-convention governors cannot constitute themselves into Progressive Governors Forum (PGF). They are in the minority and they don’t even want the same thing.

“One wants to be President, the other (Uzodinma) wants to be vice president to a Northern candidate. What unites them is that they are not keen on the unity of APC but they will eventually lose out.

“We are 22 and they are either three or four. We know the President will go by the position of the majority because he is democratic.

“Up till now, they cannot officially announce a postponement because they know the President’s position. Instead, they are using sleight of hand. They are in charge. If they want a postponement, why hide behind one finger?”

Responding to a question, the governor said Buni and the CECPC were in a fix.

The governor added: “Mai Mala cannot do it (postponement) because he knows the views of the majority of governors including first term governors. They were trying to play a divide and rule card between first and second term governors but we insisted that the right thing must be done.”

A party source claimed that most state APC chairmen have gone underground to avoid being forced to sign any communiqué for the postponement of the convention.

It was also confirmed by another governor that all his colleagues have directed their party chairmen “not to endorse any document on postponement of the convention.”

“I think those who may have signed are those from Taraba, Yobe, Kogi and Imo states. Others have gone underground, having been directed by their governors to ignore convention postponement drive.

“In frustration, the CECPC has concluded plans to replace the Chairman of State APC Chairmen Forum, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno) with his counterpart from Taraba State, Tukur El-Sudi Ibrahim, to pave the way for the postponement of the convention to March 12 or indefinitely.

“Yet all the state APC chairmen came together to elect their leaders through a democratic process. Why will the CECPC be making moves to remove Dalori if they have nothing to hide?”

Findings confirmed that governors were divided over zoning of the office of the national chairman of APC.

It was gathered that before President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to Brussels, he had built consensus among the governors to concede the office to the North-Central.

Some governors however reneged on the pact by shopping for a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as the next APC national chairman.

An APC governor simply said: “Mark my words; our next Chairman is from the North-Central.

“Mai Mala should go back home and concentrate on his job as governor.”

Aspirants in letter to CECPC, seek shift of convention[font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font]

A forum of aspirants for offices at the convention yesterday sparked a fresh confusion in the party when they wrote an open letter to the CECPC to shift the Congress.

The shift, according to them, is for the sake of peace, unity and success of the party in next year’s elections.

In the letter signed by Maxwell Yakubu Gowon, an aspirant for National Youth Leader and Chairman of All Aspirants Forum, and Hon. Mohammed Bala Mohammed, an aspirant for National Secretary who also doubles as Secretary for the Forum, the forum claimed that the Abdullahi Adamu led Reconciliatory Committee failed in its assignment, leaving the party divided down the line.

The forum said the committee “complicated the issues at stake by refusing to look at issues holistically and relied on rumours and hearsays in coming to a conclusion in its report.”

It added: “The implication of the above statement is that those that were meant to be reconciled ended up infuriated by the actions of the reconciliatory committee.

“The signs in this regard are evident for every well-meaning member of the APC to see. But they have elected in their wisdom to downplay these contentious issues in the report submitted.

“This, in our opinion, is a great disservice to your efforts at positioning the APC for electoral success. As you may be aware, the public space has been flooded with narratives that paint the APC as a party of strange bedfellows whose interests are propelled primarily for self-aggrandizement.

“Mr Chairman may wish to critically examine the various agitations in the different states in the country. The feelers are not pleasant, and with the benefit of hindsight, it would indeed spell doom if the party goes ahead with the national convention under such circumstances.

“As a party, we must be mindful of the burden of expectation placed on our shoulders in providing credible leadership to the country.

“Suppose we can’t put our house in order. In that case, we do not have any moral justification for promising the country credible leadership because charity must begin from home.”

Chairmanship aspirants distance themselves from letter

Some national chairmanship aspirants however distanced themselves from the letter.

Contacted on the phone, one of the chairmanship aspirants, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, said: “I am not aware of any forum, neither am I aware of any letter advising the Caretaker Committee Chairman to postpone the convention.”

Also reacting to our correspondent’s enquiry, another chairmanship hopeful, Malam Saliu Mustapha, who spoke through the Media Coordinator of his Campaign Organisation, Dapo Okubanjo, said: “We are not aware of the existence of the so-called All Aspirants Forum headed by an aspirant for the position of National Youth leader. So they can’t claim to be speaking for all aspirants, especially as we have never been invited to any meeting where such a decision was said to have been reached.

“We respect and trust the capacity of the leadership of the party to deal with the issues at stake,” Mustapha maintained.

Chief Sunny Sylvester Moniedafe, another chairmanship aspirant, said: “While conceding to the fact that we are in a democracy and everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, I make bold to say that problems will always exist and healing them is a process.

“Leadership at all levels is a continuum, and if anyone claims that we must clear everything, reconcile every difference before proceeding, we will be making a big error.

“The idea of continuity is to state all pending issues in your handover note.

“I want to appeal to the Gov Mai Mala Buni led CECPC to have that in their minds and decide on the next line of action which I believe should be by tomorrow evening, Sunday the 20th of February.

“Having said that, we must remember that our word should be our bond; they (CECPC) chose the date of 26th February on their own and should not lose their sense of integrity by doing something that will bring their integrity to question.”

Convention sub-committees yet to be constituted

Members of the party waited in vain again yesterday for the constitution of the sub-committees for the convention.

The Caretaker Committee at its 19th regular meeting of 19th January 2022 had fixed Saturday 19th February for the release of the membership of the sub-committees and their inauguration.

The caretaker committee also fixed the same day as the last day for the submission of nomination forms by all aspirants.

There were no activities suggestive of an upcoming convention at party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday.

No member of the Caretaker Committee was even seen at the secretariat.

The Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola has lost his Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesha East to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola at the ongoing primary election of All Progressives Congress(APC).

Aregbesola was absent to vote at the ward during the exercise.

The leader of loyalists of Aregbesola at Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesha East, Saheed Adegoke confirmed to newsmen the Minister was not around to vote.

“He told us that he had an assignment from the President,” he stated.


He said at the end of the exercise, the anointed aspirant of Aregbesola, Moshood Adeoti, garnered 146 votes while Governor Oyetola polled 309.

Mixed reactions have trailed the ongoing governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State.

The fierce battle for the sole ticket of the party is between the Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, and a former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti.

Adeoti, a former state chairman of the party, is the anointed candidate of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

While Adeoti’s men expressed satisfaction with the ongoing process, supporters of Adeoti grumbled over alleged missing names from the party’s register.

The PUNCH gathered that voting has commenced in over 300 wards in the state with Oyetola leading from unconfirmed reports shared on social media so far.

It was also learnt that there’s a large turnout in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas.

“The process was free, fair, and credible,” Ganiyu Isola, who voted at Orolu Local Government Ward 03, said.

Senate spokesperson, Ajibola Basiru, expressed satisfaction at the turnout of party members.

Basiru, a strong supporter of Oyetola, said, “This is the third ward I have been aside doing accreditation in my own ward. I have been to Ward 10 and now in Ward 9 and we have seen people ready and willing to vote.

“The party members have taken over the control and determine who will be their candidate. I only appeal to those that would lose to accept in the spirit of democracy, unity, cohesion, and development of our party to accept that in good faith and ensure that we join hands together to ensure the success of our party in the July election.”

Osun Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, described the large turnout as an appreciation of good governance.

At Ejigbo, former Osun Speaker Najeem Salaam, complained that INEC officials refused to show up at Ward 4 collation centre, which is the constitutionally recognised venue for the primary election.

Ahead of the February 26 national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stakeholders have zoned the position of National Chairman to the Northcentral geo-political zone, it was learnt yesterday.

Also, the Southsouth is likely to produce the National Secretary while the Deputy National Chairman (South) is micro-zoned to Southeast.

A source said the decision to settle for Northcentral was reached on Tuesday at a meeting of some governors and chieftains in Asokoro, Abuja.

The meeting had the blessing of President Muhammadu Buhari before he travelled out of the country.

The chairmanship aspirants from the Northcentral include Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger State), Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa State), Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Kwara State), ex-Governor George Akume (Benue State) and Mohammed Etsu (Niger State).

Others are ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa State) and former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abu Bawa Bwari (Niger State).

According to the source, the party leadership has made appreciable progress on zoning, adding that the convention date is also sacrosanct.

The source added: “The President before he left for Brussels, in Belgium, the fact was that he (President) left instructions for the Caretaker Committee, the governors and some critical leaders of the party to fine-tune and come up with two names from the earlier list submitted to him.

“I can tell you that the party leadership have made appreciable progress and nothing will stop the convention. The President gave specific instructions and the party leadership in concert with the governors and they are working round the clock to ensure a rancour-free convention.

“Another important assignment given was to resolve the zoning of the national secretary between Southsouth and Southeast and present a position to him on Saturday when Mr President returns from the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) Summit.

“The meeting resolved to zone the office of the National Secretary to Southsouth while the post of Deputy National Chairman (South) goes to Southeast.”

Other offices are being zoned to give all sense of belonging and ensure a stronger party ahead of the general elections. The CECPC will in the week release the full zoning list

The Nation also gathered that the zoning of the National Chairman slot to the north-central was vehemently opposed by a governor from the zone due to his presidential ambition, but had to bow to superior arguments by his colleagues.

The adoption of zoning that edged out five of 12 contestants. In the race now are: Adamu; Al-Makura; Akume; Mustapha (Turaki Ilorin); Sen. Sani Musa; Bwari; and Mohammed Etsu.

Those who have technically lost out include Yari; Sheriff; Yuguda; Dr. Shinkafi and Monidafe.

It is unclear if the affected five aspirants will defy consensus and contest at the convention.

A top source confirmed that President Buhari has demanded security report on all the aspirants.

Sources said the President, governors and party leaders opted for North-Central because the zone has “not benefitted much from the power equation within the government and the party.”

It was also learnt that the choice of North-Central was designed to “take the battle to the opposition and match the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) permutations by permutations.”

The source said: “The President and our leaders at all levels, including governors are considering North-Central for some equity and fairness.

“Out of the six geopolitical zones, the presidency is in the North-East, the Vice President comes from the South-West, the President of the Senate (North-East); the Speaker of the House of Representatives (South-West); the Deputy President of the Senate (South-South); and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (North-Central).

“The agitation for some balance from the North-Central is what we cannot ignore. The reality is that power will shift to the South and the North-Central cannot continue to be sidelined.

”More importantly, we want to take the battle to the zone with the PDP. Barring last minutes intrigues, the zone will produce the next chairman. It is a struggle for votes in 2023, we need to be strategic.”

The source added: “Technically, they are out of the race.

“Those who have lost out include another former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari; ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff; ex-Governor Isa Yuguda Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi and Sunny Sylvester Monidafe.”

It was unclear if the affected five aspirants will defy consensus option and contest at the February 26th national convention.

As at press time, it was gathered that the President has demanded for security report on all the aspirants.

Another source added: “APC is determined to have a new integrity-inclined, broad-minded and a matured national chairman. We will not take anything for granted.”

President Muhammadu Buhari is under pressure to reject the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022, it was learnt yesterday.

Sources said those pushing against presidential assent to the bill anchor their argument on “certain anti-democratic and discriminatory clauses”.

But, if signed and it becomes law, political parties will be expected to submit the names of their presidential candidates by August 18 — six months before the date of the presidential election.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable, the presidential election will hold on February 18, 2023.

Going by the provision of the reworked bill sighted by The Nation, on the date of submission of names of candidates, primaries for National Assembly, governorship and presidential candidates will hold between July and mid-August.

A source said: “The President may still reject the bill because of ‘vendetta and anti-democratic clauses’ in the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022.

“We may end up using the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) for the 2023 general election because of strange clauses.

“For instance, it is illegal to exclude political office holders from primaries. By implication, ministers, commissioners and others cannot participate in the electoral process.

“Also, the nation does not have the wherewithal for the use of the electronic voting machine. Most politicians in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are uncomfortable with it.”

He added: “The consensus clause is cumbersome and an attempt to hit back at state governors who used to impose candidates. So, we should expect a likely rejection of the bill by the President.”

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) said he received the reworked bill sent to him by the President for his advice, on Monday. He said he would propose to the President to sign the bill if the content is in the national interest.

According to other provisions in the bill, the electoral commission may use an electronic voting machine or any other voting device for the election.

Ministers, commissioners and other political appointees are barred from serving as poll agents during the election.

Besides, no political appointee at any level, be it a minister, commissioner or board chairman, can vote or be voted for during primaries.

They are mandated to resign before the primaries of their parties.

The election expenses for elective offices are pegged as follows: presidential, N5billion; governorship, N1billion; Senate and House of Representatives, N100million and N70million; House of Assembly, N30million; chairmanship election into an area council, N30million; and councillorship, N5million.

No individual or other entity shall donate to a candidate more than N50million.

Section 29 (1-3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2022 is explicit on the deadline for the submission of the list of candidates.

The section says: “Every political party shall, not later than 180 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the Commission, in the prescribed forms, the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, who must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.

“The list or information submitted by each candidate shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidate at the Federal High Court, High Court of a state, or Federal Capital Territory, indicating that he or she has fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into that office.

“The Commission shall, within seven days of the receipt of the personal particulars of the candidate, publish same in the constituency where the candidate intends to contest the election.”

Regarding mode of primaries, Section 84 (1) recommends: “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission.

“(2) The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct, indirect primaries or consensus.”

The conditions for consensus are as follows:

A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate.
Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective positions.
A special convention or nomination congress shall be held to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at designated centres at the national, state, senatorial, federal and state constituencies, as the case may be.
Section 84(10-13) limits courts from either stopping party primaries or elections from holding.

The section prevents political office holders at any level from participating or contesting for nomination into any elective office during primaries at the national convention or state congress.

It claims: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

State chairmen were inaugurated on Thursday by the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

The state chairmen who emerged from the state congresses conducted last October were sworn-in by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who was represented by the APC National Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe.

The inaugurated state chairmen are:

Kingsley Ononogbu (Abia)
Ibrahim Bilal (Adamawa)
Augustine Ekanem (Akwa Ibom)
Basil Ejike (Anambra)
Babayo Misau (Bauchi)
Dennis Otiotio (Bayelsa)
Augustine Agada (Benue)
Ali Dalori (Borno)
Alphonsus Eba (Cross River)
Omeni Sabotie (Delta)
Stanley Emegha (Ebonyi)
David Imuse (Edo)
Omotosho Ayodele (Ekiti)
Ogochukwu Agballah (Enugu)
Nitte Amangal (Gombe)
Macdonald Ebere (Imo)
Aminu Gumel (Jigawa)
Emmanuel Jekada (Kaduna)
Muhammed Sani (Katsina)
Abubakar Kana (Kebbi)
Abdullahi Bello (Kogi)
Sunday Fagbemi (Kwara)
Cornelius Ojelabi (Lagos)
John Mamman (Nasarawa)
Haliru Jikantoro (Niger)
Yemi Sanusi (Ogun)
Ade Adetimehin (Ondo)
Adegboyega Famodun (Osun)
Isaac Omodewu (Oyo)
Rufus Bature (Plateau)
Emeka Bekee (Rivers)
Ibrahim El-Sudi (Taraba)
Muhammed Gadaka (Yobe)
Tukur Danfulani (Zamfara)
Abdulmalik Usman (FCT)

No venue in party’s notification letter to INEC
State chairmen inaugurated

Last-minute push by some party chiefs to shift the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention date has collapsed.

President Muhammadu Buhari staved off pressure from lobbyists, insisting that the February 26 date is sacrosanct.

Following this, the APC caretaker committee wrote a February 2 letter informing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the convention date and to seek its monitoring of the process. But the letter curiously did not indicate the venue of the convention.

An INEC source, who confirmed the receipt of the letter yesterday, said non-indication of the venue did not breach any rule. He added that the party’s letter was within the 21-day timeline required by the Electoral Act for a party to notify the electoral agency of its convention date.

Also yesterday, the party inaugurated 34 of its 36 state chairmen, as well as that of the FCT. Sokoto and Kano chapters were left out.

Caretaker Chairman and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni was absent at the ceremony, which was supervised by Caretaker Secretary John James Akpanudohede.

Buni was at the Presidential Villa to present Senate Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Bwacha to the President, having defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

The President, who linked the crises rocking the ruling party to the delay in the conduct of the convention, said the exercise should not be shifted.

A source said: “President Buhari stood his ground by being adamant on February 26 for the convention. He felt the party ought to go beyond its caretaker structure. He is also conscious of the fact that the party must prepare for primaries for the 2023 poll.

“And the tension over the convention in APC has deepened the cracks in the party. He demonstrated a strong will in opposing moves to shift the convention date.

“What guided the President was the unanimous decision of the governors to hold the convention on February 26. The President saw no reason for any postponement again.

“With this, all is set for the national convention of APC.”

The President’s trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the African Union (AU) Summit further blocked the anti-convention forces from having access to the APC leader.

According to the source: “Buhari shut his doors against lobbyists seeking the postponement of the convention. His trip to Ethiopia for the AU meeting foreclosed any other option than for the CECPC to notify INEC.

“As the leader of the party, the President will be angry if the caretaker committee fails to meet up with the Friday deadline to notify INEC of the agreed date of February 26.

“It was an ambush which left proponents of convention shift stranded.”

However, an investigation by our correspondent revealed that the ruling party notified INEC of its convention in a letter with reference number APC/ NHDQ/ INEC/19/022/ 14.
The said letter was delivered to INEC and acknowledged by the electoral agency on February 3.

The source said: “It is, however, curious that APC did not indicate the venue of the convention in its letter. It is unclear why the party did so. This is not in line with official practice and precedent.

“Convention is a constitutional obligation of a political party as enshrined in Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution. So, APC is not doing INEC any favour, it has to comply with the rules regulating such an obligation.

“We are awaiting another letter on the venue of the APC national convention.

“Section 223 says: The constitution and rules of a political party shall (a) provide for the periodical election on a democratic basis of the principal officers and members of the executive committee or other governing body of the political party.”

Investigation showed that INEC was notified after the President declined entreaties from three governors and other anti-convention elements to shift the February 26th date.

Thirteen aspirants are jostling to lead APC with no one ready to step aside.

In the race to lead the APC are: former governors Abdul-Aziz Yari (Zamfara); Umar Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa); Ali Modu Sheriff (Borno); George Akume (Benue); Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).

Others are: Mallam Saliu Mustapha; Senator Sani Mohammed Musa; Sunny Sylvester Monidafe; Mohammed Estu; Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi and Bawa Bwari.

Although the Chairman of the APC National Reconciliation Committee (NEC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu was said to be interested, he has not confirmed or denied the speculation.

The CECPC was inaugurated on June 25, 2020, following the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC).

Although it was meant to be an interim administration with a six-month mandate, the Caretaker Committee’s tenure was extended in December 2020 for another six months.

But in June last year, the committee was only directed by President Buhari to draw a timetable for congresses at all levels in preparation for the convention.

While party members were expecting the exercise to hold in December 2021, the party was enmeshed in a crisis of an appropriate date for the convention.

The APC governors intervened on January 16 and fixed February 26 for the convention against the committee’s wish for more time.

It was gathered that those opposed to the national convention were banking on the Adamu Committee’s Interim Report for the extension of the tenure of CECPC.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “There is tension in APC following the uncovering of plans to postpone the party’s national convention.

“Some forces/ groups in the party want to shift the convention until when it is too tight for APC and the party will be left with no choice than to pick their anointed presidential and vice-presidential candidates. That is the bigger picture of the plot.

“As part of the game, the same forces/ groups will want the CECPC to conduct presidential, governorship and legislative primaries before the National Convention.”

Ahead of the February 26 National Convention, the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress has officially notified the Independent National Electoral Commission of its decision to hold the convention on the said date, The PUNCH has learnt.

The APC has till February 5 to submit its notification.

According to a letter titled ‘Notice for the Conduct of National Convention’ and signed by the Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, and the National Secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, the CECPC notified the electoral body of its decision on February 2, 2022.

A stamp on the letter showed that the INEC had received it on February 3, 2022.

The letter, which was addressed to the Chairman of electoral commission read “Follow up to our letter referenced APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/021/40 dated 11 July 2021 on the Notice for the conduct of national convention’.

“This is to inform the Commission that our great Party has scheduled to hold its National Convention on Saturday, February 26, 2022.

“This serves as a formal notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 85 of the Electoral Act (2010) as amended. Kindly arrange for your officials to monitor the exercise accordingly.

“While hoping to receive your cooperation, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.”