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  • APC Convention: Sen. Abdullahi Adamu Emerges National Chairman

    APC Convention: Sen. Abdullahi Adamu Emerges National Chairman

    The All Progressives Congress on Sunday selected new executives to oversee the affairs of the party nearly two years after the Adams Oshiomole-led National Working Committee (NWC) was dissolved.

    At a boisterous convention held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, Senator Abdullahi Adamu emerged as the National Chairman, while Senator Iyiola Omisore was confirmed as National Secretary.

    The selection of executives was mostly done by consensus as many candidates opted to step down after backroom negotiations.

    Muhazu Bawa Rijau (Niger) emerged as National Vice-Chairman (North-Central), while Salihu Lukman (Kaduna) was confirmed as National Vice-Chairman (North-West). Emma Eneukwu (Enugu) was confirmed as Deputy National Chairman (South)

    Senator Abubakar Kyari was also confirmed as Deputy National Chairman (North), while Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim (Taraba) was confirmed as Deputy National Women Leader.

    Although the full list of executives was yet to be released as of the time of this reporting, most of the open positions were confirmed early Sunday morning.

    Temidayo Israel Abdullahi confirmed as National Youth Leader

    Christopher Akpan confirmed as Deputy National Welfare Secretary

    Agunwa Anekwe confirmed as National Ex-Officio (South-East)

    Ayo Afolabi as Zonal Publicity Secretary (South-West)

    Musa Mailafia as Zonal Publicity Secretary (North-West)

    Lamido Mohammed as Zonal Secretary (North-East)

    Blessing Agbome (Edo) as Zonal Organising Secretary (South-South)

    Isma’il Kolawole Majoro (Oyo) as Zonal Legal Adviser (South-West),

    Barrister Chukwuemeka Zonal Legal Adviser (South-South)

    Mayor Ogbona Earnest (Ebonyi) as Zonal Legal Adviser (South-East).

    Bashir Usaini Dutse (Jigawa) as Zonal Legal Adviser (North-West)

    Dauda Chakpo (Taraba) as Zonal Legal Adviser (North-East)

    Hadiza Aliyu (Kogi) as Zonal Legal Adviser (North-Central)

    Bello Goronyo (Sokoto) as Zonal Secretary (North-West)

    Yakubu Mohammed Adamu (FCT) as Zonal Secretary (North-Central)

    Bunmi Oriniowo (Ekiti) as National Ex-Officio (South-West)

    Diriwari Akedewei (Bayelsa) as National Ex-Officio (South-South)

    Allyu Ahmed Yako (Kano) as National Ex-Officio (North-west)

    Oluwatoyin Opawuye (Kwara) as National Ex-Officio (North-Central).

    Jamaluddeen Kabir (Zamfara) as Deputy National Youth Leader

    Yakubu Murtala Ajaka (Kogi) as Deputy National Publicity Secretary

    Hamma-Adama Ali Kumo (Gombe) as Deputy National Financial Secretary

    Omorede Osifo (Edo) as Deputy National Treasurer

    Bashir Usman Gumel (Jigawa) as National Financial Secretary

    Ahmed El-Marzuk (Katsina) as National Legal Adviser

    Fetus Fuanter (Plateau) as Deputy National Secretary

    Consensus candidate
    Adamu, a serving member of the Senate representing Nasarawa West and former governor of the state, is President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice for the job.

    Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, who is also Chairman of the Electoral Committee, announced Adamu as the winner of the contest after he was endorsed by party members and leaders at the convention via a voice vote.

    He had gone into the election as the consensus candidate following the withdrawal of his co-contenders from the contest.

    Adamu replaces Oshiomhole as the substantive APC national chairman after the NWC chaired by the former was sacked in June 2020.

    He, however, takes over from Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State who was appointed to administer the affairs of the party pending when a convention would be conducted.

    Barely a day to the convention, the coast got cleared for Adamu after six aspirants from the north-central region eyeing the ruling party’s top job stepped down for him.

    They include the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume; former governors Tanko Al-Makura and Abdul’Aziz Yari, as well as Senator Sani Musa, Saliu Mustapha, and Muhammed Etsu.

  • APC Convention: We support Buhari’s candidate for chairman ― APC Govs

    APC Convention: We support Buhari’s candidate for chairman ― APC Govs

    Ahead of the March 26 National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the governors of the party have declared their support for the candidate endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    They stated this after a meeting with President Buhari, on Wednesday said they were in the process of consensus candidates.

    The governors were led to the meeting by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.

    Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting with President Buhari, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said they will support any process that would lead to a consensus.

    Recall Buhari had last month said he was in favour of the consensus mode for selecting candidates for the party’s national positions.

    He had urged the governors to explore the option of consensus.

    He said, “Today, members of the Progressive Governors Forum were hosted by Mr President at a meeting to discuss what the governors have been doing in preparation for the March 26, National Convention.

    “We discussed and briefed him on what the governors have been doing in support of the March 26, 2022, National Convention, which is coming up in a few days. We restated our commitment to our unity and support for Mr President to acknowledge the progress made under the APC

    “Some of you may recall that last week there was a letter that was widely circulated in the media, addressed to me as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and copied to a number of others, including the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, the acting Chairman of the Caretaker Committee and indeed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    “That letter led to a series of actions, including meetings between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Acting Chairman, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, as he was then, and myself.

    “We all restated our commitment to working together to ensure that the convention takes place on March 26, 2022, and then we agreed to support all the decisions that were taken by the Caretaker Committee, both acting as a working committee and acting with the donated powers given to it by the National Executive Committee.

    “Indeed, the Chairman of the Caretaker, upon his return, also appreciated what the Caretaker Committee did and the decisions that were taken in his absence.

    “Today we all briefed Mr. President on that, of course, included on that is the issue of distributing political party offices to the respective zones and our support for Mr President’s endorsement of the candidate for the National Chairman of the party.

    “And the various geo-political zones took turns to brief Mr President, on what they have been doing to generate consensus in their respective zones amongst the National Working Committee and zonal party positions that have been either allocated to the zones or which the zones are entitled to.

    “Most of the zones have been allocated National Working Committee positions that are fewer than the number of states, but however, there are zonal executive committees from which the zones are working to produce a consensus list.

    “So, this afternoon, the respective zones; Governor Abubakar Bello on behalf of the North-Central; His Excellency, Governor Babagana Zulum, on behalf of the Northeast; His Excellency, Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State on behalf of Northwest; His Excellency, Governor Dave Umahi, on behalf of Southeast. Governor Kayode Fayemi briefed the President on the Southwest. I further mention the position of the South-South to Mr. President, as I had on paper.

    “So, Mr. President, appreciated the briefing and restated his gratitude for the work the governors have been doing in support for in support of the party and preparation for the National Convention. Thank you. Let me share my screen.”

    Asked what will happen to some of the aspirants that have not agreed on consensus, Governor Bagudu said that as a democratic party, nobody would be stopped from contesting.

    “Our party is a democratic party, we will always urge consensus, we’ll urge respect for the decisions of the party because the distribution of political party offices here has been approved by the highest organ of the party, which is the National Caretaker Committee, because they were acting in their capacity as the National Executive Committee of the party.

    “But where people still choose to go against the grain, whatever the party constitution allows them, because we wouldn’t do anything on undemocratic.

    “Mr. President has always urged consensus for all positions because consensus is in accordance with the democratic tenets and once you have leaders who are established, who are working towards the same goal, yes, we might have our individual differences, like was once carefully explained by Governor El-Rufa’i, but on the principle of ensuring that we get leadership that will hit the ground running, we are united, and to that extent, who will support any process that will lead to consensus and the emergence of leaders without the need for election.”

    Further asked whether there would be surprises at the convention, he said, “No, the governors are united.

    “The governors are unanimous in support of Mr President. The governors are unanimous in the support of the caretaker committee.

    “Naturally, there will be hiccups one day, but we have overcome them and we are a human organization, which is bound sometimes to generate emotions and anxiety, but we are united and unanimous and by God’s grace, we’ll have a very successful and peaceful National Convention. “

    However, one of the governors at the meeting said that no agreement had been reached on consensus.

    The governor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that discussions on consensus were ongoing.

  • APC Convention: Chairman And Members Of Venue/Site Servicing Committee Inspect Eagle Square

    APC Convention: Chairman And Members Of Venue/Site Servicing Committee Inspect Eagle Square

    As the countdown to the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) continues, Chairman and members of the Venue, Decorations and Site Servicing Committee have visited the Eagle Square Abuja, venue of the proposed convention scheduled for 26th March 2022.

    Leading the Committee to the Eagle Square, Chairman of the Committee and Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong said they were at the venue to see the state of the facility and also interface with the management.

    He said the Committee would have started making arrangements at the venue before now, but for the Science and Technology Expo which just ended at the same venue.

    Nevertheless, Governor Lalong said the Committee has been meeting and engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure that the plans for the venue and associated services are put in place for the comfort of delegates and officials during the APC Convention.

    Lalong said they are working closely with the Committees on security, protocol and others to ensure that there is synergy which will lead to the conduct of a hitch-free exercise.

    The Governor appealed to all members of the APC to unite and work for the success of the National Convention which will strengthen the party ahead of the 2023 elections.

  • APC dares INEC, Vows to go ahead with March 26 Convention

    APC dares INEC, Vows to go ahead with March 26 Convention

    The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has dismissed a letter written to it by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need to give the Commission a 21-day notice for its national convention slated for March 26.

    Spokesman of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Barr. Ismaila Ahmed disclosed this at a news conference Friday in Abuja.

    He said the party had earlier intimated the commission of its intent to conduct its national convention on February 26 and that what is now required for its new date of March 26 is simply a notice of an adjustment and not a fresh 21-day notice.

  • APC Convention: We Have Capacity To Resolve Issues — Buhari

    APC Convention: We Have Capacity To Resolve Issues — Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has the capacity to resolve its differences bordering on the forthcoming national convention.

    President Buhari, who left Abuja on Sunday to London, the United Kingdon for what the presidency described as “routine medical checks” also said that going by the constitutional provisions, Vice President Yemi will take charge of governance in his absence.

    The APC has been enmeshed in internal wrangling over zoning of political positions which is threatening to tear it apart.

    It was reported that President Buhari has endorsed Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa state as a consensus candidate for the party’s chairmanship position but other aspirants for the seat have allegedly kicked against what they described as imposition contrary to the tenets of democracy.

    But despite the plethora of agitations and internal crisis in the party, President Buhari has said that there is no cause for alarm, as the party has what it takes to handle every issues.

    Fielding question from journalists before he departed to London on what he would tell a section of Nigerians who have expressed doubt over the ability of the APC to conduct a successful national convention, the President said, “Well, they should wait and see.

    “How did we come as a party to take power from the ruling party who had been there before us for so many years? So we have the capacity, everything will be alright.”

    On the vacuum to be created as a result of his absence, he said, “Well, I cannot claim to be doing the work alone. The government is fully represented. The Vice President is there. Constitutionally when I’m aware he’s in charge. And the Secretary to the Government and then the Chief of Staff, so no problem.”

    President Buhari, who departed to London for medical checks is expected to stay away for about two weeks.

    The President had last week traveled to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital to honour the invitation extended to him by President Uhuru Kenyatta to participate in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environmental Programme tagged UNEP@50.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina had stated that the President would proceed to London from Kenya for the routine medical checks.

    The Presidential spokesman had in the statement said, “From Kenya, President Buhari will proceed to London for routine medical checks that will last for a maximum of two weeks.”

    The UNEP@50 took place between 3rd and 4th March and it was expected that after the programme the President would from Kenya travel to London.

    Surprisingly, President Buhari returned to Nigeria on Friday afternoon.

    When contacted on the surprise return to Nigeria contrary to the earlier statement from Chief Adesina that he (Buhari) would proceed to London from Kenya, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said that the President returned to Abuja to sort out few things and then go to London on Sunday.

    At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Presidential Wing to see off the President on Sunday were his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Minister of State for the FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Director-General, Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Yusuf Bichi, and a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Sanusi Lemu,

  • APC Convention: I will Support Election of Credible Yout ― Buhari

    APC Convention: I will Support Election of Credible Yout ― Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured youths of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, that he is ready to support credible and committed ones among them to vie for elective positions during the party’s forthcoming national convention slated for February 26, 2022.

    The President has also directed his Chief of Staff (CoS), Professor Ibrahim Gambari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha to ensure that experienced youngsters are appointed into federal boards that are yet to be constituted.

    This is as he urged the APC youth to work hard for the ruling party to retain the gubernatorial seats in Osun and Ekiti States later this year.

    President Buhari spoke while playing host to members of the APC National Youth Lobby Group at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He affirmed that the leadership of the party would ensure the full participation of young people at all levels.

    According to him: ”I will also support the aspirations of credible and committed young people who are vying for positions in the upcoming convention.

    ”It is also in our interest to ensure the longevity of our party by standardizing and institutionalizing the leadership recruitment system. Hardworking and exemplary individuals should be identified and encouraged and mentored.

    ”It should be a deliberate policy of the progressives in ensuring that we have a robust succession plan in place,” he said.

    Commending members of the APC National Youth Lobby group for the work they are doing for the party, the President said: ”You are not begging, but negotiating, staking a claim and seeking to add value, which is admirable.”

    He urged them to help the party achieve a successful Convention on February 26, 2022 and in subsequent elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

    President Buhari declared that APC must be made attractive for younger people to continuously take ownership of it because that is the future, and ”that is what progress means.”