There have been rumors of divisions, personal agendas, and other concerns in the camp of the All Progressive Congress (APC). The issues have resulted from matters bordering national convention, chairmanship and zoning, all these relating to the 2023 general elections.
With federal and state elections slated for 25 February and 11 March 2023, APC is looking more disjointed than united if it is to repeat the success of 2019 general elections.
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National Convention
The internal crisis in the APC cannot be more revealing than it has been in the party’s organization of the 2022 national convention. Party executives inaugurated a Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to handle the effective planning of the convention. The over 1000 members of the CECPC fixed March 26 for the national convention after various rifts developed by different sects in the party. The committee chairman and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni was removed after allegations of misconduct tainted his administration. Niger State Governor Sani Bello replaced him following a dramatic turn of events.
Sani Bello, in his first acts as chairman, trimmed the CECPC to a little less than 100. The Governor then sent a letter of notice to the electoral body, INEC, informing it of the validity of the March 26 convention. In a letter of rejection, INEC claimed the party violated section 82 (1) of the electoral act, which holds that the party must give the commission a 21 days’ notice before nominating candidates for any elective positions. And that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the national chairman and national secretary of the CECPC. The way to proceed is still being determined by party executives.
Zoning
The Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved the recommendations delivered by the zoning committee after several months of deliberation.
The zoning arrangement sees the North Central produce top positions like national chairman, while the southsouth takes the national women leader. The southwest top position is the national secretary, while the southeast presents the national treasurer. The north east and northwest would produce the national auditor and national legal adviser, respectively.
Chairmanship
The APC initially appointed Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, as the interim national chairman and head of the Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). Shockingly, just a few days ago, APC’s Governor forum announced the removal of Gov Mai Mala Buni as interim national chairman of the party and head of the CECPC. They accused him of allegedly hiding evidence, disobeying President Buhari’s order and other actions, not in the best interest of the party.
The replacement, Gov Sani Bello, has naturally taken on the responsibility of chairmanship irrespective of the controversies surrounding his appointment.