National Convention: APC governors yet to agree on consensus

As Badaru dismisses unity list

 

Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the platform of the Progressives Governors Forum are her to agree on a consensus list of candidates for the National Working Committee of the party ahead of this weekend’s national convention of the party.

The governors rose from over their over two and half hours meeting on Wednesday night to ask each of the, to go back to their various zones to discuss with the aspirants for the various position with a view to arriving at consensus for each of the positions being contested.

Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar who spoke with newsmen at the end of the meeting which took place at the Imo state governors lodge said no list has been developed by the governors as is being speculated or is being developed.

But Nasarawa state Governor, Tanko AlMakura said the consensus list is

likely to be ready by today as the governors are talking to themselves with a view to arriving at a consensus so that the convention will be rancour free.

Badaru said the governors discussed “the convention and how prepared we are for it. We still affirmed that we will hold the convention on June 23 and the governors are giving all necessary support to make it successful and rancor free. We will be coming out of that convention stronger.

“What we asked is for the governors to meet with the aspirants at their zonal levels to see if we can reduce the aspirants in the election by consensus which is agreed to by our party constitution. But no list has been developed yet.

On what the governors intends to present to the President about the convention when they meet with him, he said “I am not aware there is that meeting tomorrow (today).

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While dismissing the alleged unity list, he said “It is not a list that is coming out. It is to reduce the number of contestants by consensus. After the governors might have met with the aspirants at their different zonal levels, they are supposed to report back before Friday because we will be entering the convention on Saturday.

“But let me emphasis that it is not a list. So, don’t misquote me. There is no list. In places where we have eight people contesting for one position, we are trying to see if the number can be reduced.

“There are those who are unopposed. In some positions, we have people, in some, we have two or five. So we will discuss with them to see if we can have some agreement to see one person come out unopposed. Where they do not agree, then we will go to the ballot boxes.”

On how many people have been disqualified by both the screening and screening appeals committee, he said “off head, I cannot give you the exact number, but it is around 16. But I am not very sure because I do t have figures here. But I can confirm to you that some have been screened out and most of them are contesting the position of youth leaders because of the age limitation.

On petitions against serving NWC members, he said “the appeals committee is looking at that and will submit their report for the general convention committee to look at and adopt.

He said the convention committee did not alter the zoning arrangement because “zoning was a NEC resolution. It was agreed by the NEC and so, we cannot change it until we go back to the NEC.”

Also speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Nasarawa state Governor, Tanko AlMakura said “I want to assure you that we governors are talking to ourselves to ensure that we have consensus so that the election will be rancour free and to the best interest of the country.

“I assure you that at the end of the day, we will have a team that all APC members will be proud of. The unity list and consensus are the same thing. By the time we get to that stage, you will know”

Twenty three States out of the twenty four states controlled by the party were represented at the meeting with Kebbi state Governor, Atiku Bagudu not in attendance and not represented.

Some of the Governors Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Kashim Shettima of Borno, Jibrilla Bindo of Adamawa, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe, Tanko AlMakura of Nasarawa state, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa who is also the chairman of the convention planning committee.

Others include Ibikunle Amosu of Ogun, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Aminu Masari of Katsina, Sani Bello of Niger, Abubakar Ibrahim of Bauchi, Aminu Tanbuwal of Sokoto, Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Governors of Lagos and Kaduna.

The governors are expected to meet with the President on Thursday and also expect the Eagle Square, venue of the convention.

There have been speculations that the governors may adopt a unity list which they will present to the President for adoption for the convention.

The President reportedly told the governors at a meeting last week to take charge of the convention and ensure it was hitch free while doing everything possible to nip in the bud any possible crisis that may want to rear its head during the convention.

The chairman of the convention committee was expected to brief the governors on he progress so far made in their preparation for the convention.

The meeting of the governors which started at about 8.30 pm at the Imo governor’s lodge is expected to take crucial decisions regarding the convention.

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