BARRING last minute changes, a formal application for registration
by the All Progressive Congress (APC) may be presented to the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) this week.
A competent source told The Guardian that an interim executive of the
proposed party, comprising serving chairmen, secretaries and treasurers of
the ACN, ANPP and the CPC have been constituted to achieve the goal.
They have been mandated to pick from among themselves those who
would positions of the chairman, secretary and treasurer of the proposed
party.
The old secretariat of NITEL, located at zone 6 Abuja, is being proposed to
serve as the headquarters of the APC. Former Kano state governor, Ibrahim
Shekarau, who is touted to serve as the secretary of the proposed party, is
billed to make this known today.
Meanwhile, kites are flying on who would occupy the position of protem
chairman, which may have been zoned to the South East.
A source within the APC’s top hierarchy confided in The Guardian that some
notable politicians from the Northwest are not favourably disposed to the
choice of former national chairman of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Dr.
Ogbonnaya Onu, to occupy the chairmanship seat.
The source disclosed that Onu’s candidacy is also not enjoying support of
the Southwest.
According to the source, the initial suggestion for the former Kano State
governor, Shekarau to head the fledgling political movement was deflated
by politicians from the Northwest, so as to pave way for the emergence of
one of theirs, as presidential candidate.
He said: “One issue that is affecting the setting up of the interim national
executive committee to see to the registration of the APC is which zone the
presidential candidate and the running mate should come from. Initially,
the Southwest wanted Bisi Akande, but started backpedaling against the
background of the provision that all those that would temporary hold
executive positions should not contest any substantive position
immediately the party is registered.”
The source also noted that the little squabbles between promoters of APC
in the South East have made it practically impossible for the zone to agree
on what it wants, pointing out that Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s
aspiration to run for the presidency is also militating against the team play
of the zone.
He pointed out that two distinct factions have become noticeable in the
South East caucus, saying that while former Imo State Governor, Achike
Udenwa, is leading former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stalwarts in the
merger, Governor Okorocha and former Anambra State Governor, Senator
Chris Nwabueze Ngige, is leading the other.
But reacting to the perceived wrangling in the South East caucus, former
Enugu State governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive
Change (CPC), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, denied any zonal input “at this time”.
He stressed that it is a party matter: “It is the party that would release the
template; we are still talking. The major thrust in the arrangement rests on
the parties forming the merger and only when there is a clash should the
consideration of zone come in.”