It’s a few hours away from the long-awaited National Convention of the governing party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
We are almost there. #APCNationalConvention pic.twitter.com/dsYTOxiEOC
— ENESI (@MrAbuSidiq) March 25, 2022
The National Convention 2022 #APCNationalConvention is the highest decision-making event of the party to kick-start the 2023 general election.
The Convention is crucial to the party’s future because the outcome of this Convention will determine the party’s peaceful and united front going forward. In addition, the crop of leaders to manage the party during Nigeria’s 2023 general election will emerge from this electoral process.
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION’S STATISTICAL OUTLOOK
About 4000 Delegates from all the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory will be at the convention ground.
They are expected to elect APC members into 66 positions. Out of these positions are 21 National Working Committee, NWC members, and 45 Non-National Working Committee members who are also members of the party’s National Executive Committee.
In the spirit of equity, the party shared the positions of the National Working Committee to the six geo-political areas of Nigeria. However, because each geo-political zone has at least five states, many negotiations took place behind the scenes to decide which state will produce the positions allocated to each zone.
ZONING ARRANGEMENT
Meanwhile, some aspirants began dropping out of the race because they did not allocate the zoning arrangement to favor the aspirants’ desired position.
One of which is the former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff. On the other hand, the zoning did not stop some candidates from contesting positions, not in their geo-political areas, such as the former governor of Zamfara State Abdulaziz Yari.
CONSENSUS AGREEMENT
Another aspect of negotiation that would affect the outcome of the Convention is a consensus which may lead to a unity list.
Briefing journalists on the outcome of a recent meeting between the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, and APC Governors, the Chairman of the APC Governor’s Forum, Governor Atiku Bagudu, said the President advised the party leaders to adopt consensus in selecting leaders at the Convention.
In addition, the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee for the Convention, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, said a consensus is always a first option for the APC.
With this in view, it is expected that the party will adopt consensus on the different positions to be contested.
However, it is vital that the APC adopts consensus in line with the Nigerian Electoral Act, which stipulates that the party gets written consent from every candidate contesting for the particular position for which the consensus is being adopted.
The question now is; Can the APC get all candidates to give consent to avoid legal setbacks?
If the aspirants concede, President Buhari appealed to the party to refund the money used to purchase the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to such aspirants.
SCREENING/ LIST OF CANDIDATES AND POSITIONS
All the aspirants have been screened and cleared.
Running for the top position of the party, the APC National Chairman is;
Two former governors of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura and Abdullahi Adamu;
A former Governor of Benue State and Nigeria’s Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, George Akume;
A former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari;
The Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator Sani Musa, and the Turaki of Ilorin, Saliu Mustapha.
Apart from the national chairman, other positions to be elected include;
Deputy National Chairmen north and south, vice-chairmen for the six geo-political regions, national secretary, deputy national secretary; national organising secretary, national legal adviser, national financial secretary, national welfare secretary, national treasurer, national publicity secretary, national auditor, national women leader, national youth leader and leader of persons living with disabilities.
Others are:
Deputy national financial secretary, deputy national legal adviser, deputy national treasurer, deputy welfare secretary, deputy national publicity secretary, deputy national auditor, deputy national women leader, deputy national youth leader, the zonal secretaries of the six zones, zonal youth leaders in the six zones, zonal organising secretaries across all zones and the six ex officio members.
So far, the programme of events is well defined, and the coast looks clear for a smooth convention that will hold at Eagle Square, Abuja.
Programme of event for the 2022 APC National Convention holding on Saturday 26th March 2022 at the Eagle Square, Abuja! pic.twitter.com/axZdRVA90E
— APC 🇳🇬 Support (@APCNigeria) March 25, 2022
The Secretary of the APC National Convention Sub-Committee on Digital Communication, Mal. Kashifu Inuwa @KashifuInuwa, @BashirAhmaad, @AyoOyalowo, @AyooAkanji & @shamsudeenAY visited the venue of the National Convention, for assessment. #APCNationalConvention pic.twitter.com/RXUmsiWC1o
— APC National Convention 2022 (@APCNatConv22) March 25, 2022
E/Suzan O.
