APC leaders renew efforts to counter governors on zoning

Expected reconfiguration of the leadership structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be stalled as national leaders of the party  have moved to ensure retention of the current structure.

Former presidential flag bearer of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) Muhammadu Buhari and former Lagos governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu are among the leaders of the party.
Last minute horse trading last night revealed that the recent position adopted by state governors to shift the chairmanship to the South South zone may not sail through as leaders of the party are said to have complained of lack of time to build a consensus over whatever changes that may be adopted.
Reliable sources in the party say the party’s national leaders are in support of retaining the status quo in the leadership of the party for continuity and in order to avoid rancor that may arise from fresh nominations during the party’s Friday convention.
The position of the leaders according to inside sources, conflicts with the interest of state governors within the party.
The governors, led by Musa Kwankwaso of Kano and former governor Bukola Saraki are in favour of altering the current leadership structure which chairmanship

is occupied by the South West zone to one that will concede the chairmanship to the South South geo-political zone.
The governors are said to have gone beyond mere zoning the position to zeroing in on former governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva as their choice for the position.
Another group, said to have the support of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, comprising former governors Ali Modu Sheriff and Niyi Adebayo is said to be united in favour of the South South zone but with Tom Ikimi as their choice for chairman.
Atiku is also said to be meeting with the Buhari/Tinubu bloc as well and may likely defer to them if the need arises as he is said to be opposed to the choice of the governors.
Our correspondents learnt that the North Central caucus of the party met Monday night to discuss the issue and they were briefed by Dr. Bukola Saraki on why the zone should support the emergence of a candidate for the chairmanship from the South South zone.
A source who was at the meeting said the former governor explained to the meeting that the position is in the interest of the region urging stakeholders to accept the post of national publicity secretary as well as that of women leader.
Retaining the position of national publicity in the North Central zone, is seen as a way of allowing the current interim national publicity secretary, the opportunity to return as the party’s spokesman.
Another caucus of northern leaders which met at the residence of former PDP national chairman, Audu Ogbe, is said to favour the retention of the current structure.
Major opinions within the party on how the new exco should emerge, center around having each of the six geo political zones accept whatever positions are zoned to them and sharing such according to the states in the zones.
This is said to be in order to have a crisis free national convention merely for the affirmation of such decisions through voice votes.
Proponents of this option are of the view that the party does not have enough time to allow for balloting more so as aspirants are yet to obtain forms three days to the convention while it at the same time cannot afford to shift the convention date due to the imminence of the Ramadan period.
Other stakeholders have suggested that since all the issues cannot be resolved within the short time left before the convention, the present interim structure be retained so as to avoid friction.
If that is done, then the current interim national chairman, Bisi Akande, as well as the other interim executive committee members would be allowed to return.
Various meetings are said to be going on as at yesterday.
Publicity secretary of the convention committee, Rotimi Fashakin, when contacted, said he cannot comment as he was attending a meeting.