This Saturday’s National convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC is likely to be crisis-ridden, BusinessDay has learnt.

This is as critical stakeholders of APC have concluded plans to remove the names of all the outgoing National working committee, NWC members seeking re-election at the National Convention from the ‘unity list’.

The current APC NWC members seeking re-election are Mai Buni, National Secretary, Lawan Shuaibu, Deputy National Chairman (North), Hilard Etta, National vice chairman (south-south), Osita Izunaso, National organizing Secretary and George Muoghalu (National Auditor).

It is, however, gathered that only the outgoing National Secretary, Mai Buni, has been penciled down to make the said unity list.

Already some aspirants who are alleging bias in the said consensus list are threatening to cause disruption and stage a walkout from the convention if a level playing ground is not provided for all aspirants. BusinessDay learnt that President Muhammadu Buhari had told the party leaders of his interest in three positions of National Chairman, National Secretary and that of National Organising Secretary.

Buhari, according to a reliable source, had asked one of his aides to advice the outgoing National Chairman, John Oyegun, National Organising Secretary, Ozita Izunazo, not to seek re-election but the incumbent organising secretary, Izunazo rejected the advice.

An aspirant, who anonymously raised alarm over what he described as a plot by some members of the outgoing executive to get themselves re-elected, who is also one of the prominent contenders, said: “We have just been informed that the current NWC has already prepared a unity list of themselves, which they will forward to the APC governors forum on Wednesday (today) for adoption and they will forward same to Mr President for approval.”

“This further confirms our position and resolve that impunity is in the pipeline and it will be challenged to the later.”
When contacted to know whether some of the aspirants were part of the zonal consultations ahead of the convention, an aspirant for the office of the National Vice Chairman North-east, Umar Duhu, said no one has either convened a meeting in his zone nor was he invited for any meeting to discuss anything consensus.

According to him, “it will be laughable to suggest among others that, the meeting of APC Governors slated for Wednesday will produce the so-called unity list without recourse to the aspirants who are the most critical stakeholders.”

“Therefore, if some contestants feel humiliated and would be expressing their dissatisfaction by venting their anger at any undemocratic actions, they will be doing so within their rights as those that genuinely bought forms, screened and have spent resources campaigning.”

Duhu, however, called on President Buhari to take charge “so that the APC convention will not become a crying shame under his watch.”

Another aspirant for the office of National Youth Leader who pleaded not to be named said: “any attempt by the party to select some favourite candidates will be met with serious resistance at the convention venue.” (BusinessDay)

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