APC zones national offices ahead of convention

The South-South zone is expected to produce the new national chairman. 

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, has concluded the zoning of national offices ahead of its National Convention slated for this Saturday at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
The Caucus meeting of the APC, which took place at the Sokoto state Governors lodge on Tuesday, ratified the zoning arrangement, in which the South-South zone is expected to produce the new national chairman.
Based on the zoning arrangement as ratified by the caucus last night, the post of National Secretary has been zoned to the North East; Deputy National Chairman to the South West; National Treasurer to the North West; and National Publicity Secretary, North Central zones respectively.
Apart from the National Chairmanship position, the South-South zone will also produce the Deputy National Secretary and the Deputy National Legal Adviser.
The South West will produce the National Legal Adviser and National Financial Secretary in addition to the Deputy National Chairman, while the South East will apart from producing the National Organising Secretary, produce the National Auditor, the Deputy
Financial Secretary and Deputy Women Leader.
For the North Central, the zone will in addition to the National Publicity Secretary produce the National Woman Leader, Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Welfare Secretary. As for the North East, it has been allocated the offices of the National Youth Leader and Deputy National Auditor in addition to that of the National Secretary.
The North West has been allocated the offices of the Welfare Secretary, National Treasurer, Deputy National Organising secretary as well as the Deputy National Chairman.
The decision of the caucus meeting to zone the offices is coming a few hours after the deputy chairman of the party’s National Convention Committee, Chris Ngige, denied that the party had any plan to zone offices.
While briefing journalists at the end of the inauguration of the convention sub-committees on Tuesday in Abuja Mr. Ngige said that the party did not in any way agree to zone any particular position to any region, saying that all members of the party had equal right to contest.
“We have not zoned any office to anywhere and you know that zoning is a conceptual arrangement, so even if we agree it will be a sort of gentleman’s agreement.
“Therefore, the party will not deny anybody of his right as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Mr. Ngige said.
He expressed the party’s determination to conduct free, fair, credible and transparent election that would give APC reliable and responsible leaders.
He said the committee has made adequate provision to ensure hitch-free exercise before, during and after the convention.
“APC National Convention Committee is well prepared, as you can see all the committee members are here and everything is already working out fine.
“Nigerians will see a convention that is transparent. Democratically elected leaders will emerge to steer the affairs of our party for the next four years.”
The lawmaker said that the convention would produce leaders who would move the party to the desired level.
He said that many aspirants have obtained forms for different positions in the party.
Mr. Ngige said APC was ready to initiate programmes that would create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth and make the country attractive to both local and international investors.
Tuesday’s Caucus meeting had in attendance Bola Tinubu, Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, Bisi Akande, Nasir El-Rufai, Bello Masari, Ali Sheriff, Lawal Shuaibu and Buba Galadima.
Governors present include Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano; Murtala Nyako, Adamawa; Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun; Rochas Okorocha, Imo; and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Tanko Almakura, Nasarawa; Babatunde Fashola, Lagos; Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers; Adams Oshiomhole, Edo; and Abdulaziz Yari, Zamfara. Borno state governor, Kashim Zannah was represented by his deputy.
Others are former governors Abubakar Audu, Segun Osoba, Timipreye Sylva, Danjuma Goje, Abdullahi Adamu, , George Akume, Lawal Jafaru Isah, Bukola Saraki, Sani Yarima, as well as Bayero Nafada, Kawu Baraje, Kanti Bello, Sadiya Umar Farouq, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Kawu Sumaila, and Femi Gbajabiamila.
APC Zoning Positions at a glance:
National Chairman, Deputy National Secretary, Deputy National Legal Adviser
South West: National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Chairman, National Financial Secretary
South East: National Organising Secretary, National Auditor, Deputy Financial Secretary, Deputy Women Leader
North Central: National Publicity Secretary, National Women Leader, Deputy Treasurer, Deputy Welfare Secretary
North East: National Secretary, National Youth Leader, Deputy National Auditor
North West: Welfare Secretary, Deputy National Chairman, National Treasurer, Deputy National Organising secretary
Each of the six geo-political zones will produce the following: One Zonal National Vice Chairman, One Zonal Woman Leader, One Zonal Youth Leader and One Ex-Officio. 

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