Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The NWC of the party had sent out an invitation signed by the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to all senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect for a crucial meeting with Tinubu and Shettima today.
It read, “The meeting which will be attended by the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect, will be held at the State House Banquet Hall, Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
“Senators/House of Representatives-Elect must come to the meeting with their Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Certificate of Return and must come alone.
“The meeting is strictly on invitation Date: Monday 13th March 2023. Time: 2pm prompt. Venue: State House Banquet Hall, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja
“All guests are expected to arrive early to allow for screening and be seated before noon. Signed: Senator lyiola Omisore, National Secretary.”
There have been a series of consultations and alignment of views among the critical stakeholders in the APC since the notice of the meeting was issued.
Findings by ThisNigeria revealed that the parley would discuss the outcome of the last election and take strategic decisions on how to win Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.
However, sources within the NWC told our correspondent that the meeting was called to discuss the alarming calls for the resignation of the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
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The crisis within the leadership of the APC came to the fore on Friday when the National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the party, Mallam Salihu Lukman, demanded the resignation of Adamu.
Lukman in a statement titled “APC Internal Dynamics and the Future of Democracy,” stressed that the National Chairman of the party must resign to give way to a Christian leader.
*Rights activists back demand for national chairman’s ouster
A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, under the auspices of the Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA), backed Lukman’s call on Sunday when it asked the National Chairman of the APC to resign in the interest of equity, fairness, and justice.
The CNCRA said Adamu’s exit as APC National Chairman would ensure power balancing in the incoming Bola Tinubu’s APC-led government.
It argued that the National Chairman should quit the stage honourably in a bid to balance the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.
The group made its position clear in a statement signed by its Convener, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, and Secretary, Sina Akadiri, which was made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday.
The rights activists said Adamu’s resignation would also be a great opportunity for the APC to assuage the feelings of Christians towards the same faith arrangement of the party in the recently concluded Presidential Election.
The CNCRA said, “Adamu should toe the path of honour and statesmanship by tendering his letter of resignation after the Governorship and House Assembly elections.
“His action would be welcomed and commended by the Christians and it will also pave the way for the emergence of a ranking senator from North Central, to become either the President or Deputy President of the Senate in the forthcoming 10th National Assembly.”
The right activists noted that they were elated when they heard about the patriotic call by Lukman urging the former governor of Nasarawa State to sacrifice his position in the interest of peace, unity, and harmony.
The CNCRA said it acknowledged the immense contributions of Adamu and the North Central geopolitical zone towards the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.
It noted that the ruling APC should compensate the North Central by making sure that a dependable, loyal, and ranking senator emerges as either the President or Deputy Senate President in the 10th National Assembly.
The tension created by the call, sources said, would force the NWC/elected lawmakers parley on Monday (today) to discuss the issue
A senator-elect, who spoke with ThisNigeria on conditions of anonymity, explained that Adamu’s resignation tops the agenda of the meeting.
He said, “There were serious concerns before we went into the election and many of us believe that Adamu should resign to assuage the feelings of the Christian community towards our party.
“The calculation then was that our Christian brothers and sisters would soften their hard stance against our party if we produce one of them as the National Chairman of the APC.
“There were, however, superior arguments that such arrangements could only be put in place during the party’s convention. It was also argued that it was not better to go into the election with a divided house.
“However, it was agreed that something urgent should be done about it immediately after our presidential and vice presidential candidates emerged victorious at the poll.
“I will not be surprised if the National Chairman comes to the meeting tomorrow (today) with his resignation letter in his pocket.”
*Lobby for N’ Assembly principal positions intensify
Meanwhile, further findings by ThisNigeria revealed that intense lobbying for the presiding and principal officers’ positions in the Senate and the House of Representatives would heighten after the Villa parley today.
It is expected that the NWC and the duo of the president and vice president-elect, would reveal the zoning arrangements.
ThisNigeria gathered that the party is considering the South-East, South-South, and North-Central geopolitical zones for the position of Senate President.
However, critical stakeholders and Civil Society Organisations believe that the South-East and the North-Central zones deserved to occupy the position of both the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, while the North-West and South-South should be allowed to produce the presiding officers for the House of Representatives.
Going by parliamentary tradition, rules, and convention, the political party with the highest number of legislators is expected to form the majority caucus. It will also produce the presiding officers.
Apart from that, the party with the dominant members would also constitute the majority leadership while the party with the second highest number of lawmakers in the chamber would produce the minority principal officers.
The principal officers are leaders of the majority and minority caucuses, and they are constituted based on membership configuration in the chamber.
They are made up of the majority leader, the deputy majority leader, the chief whip, and the deputy whip.
The minority caucus is expected to produce the minority leader, the deputy minority leader, the minority whip, and the deputy minority whip.
Ranking members, who are returning for a second or more time, are automatically qualified to contest the principal office positions either from the majority or the minority caucus.
Out of the 360 members in the House of Representatives, the APC has won 162, the Peoples Democratic Party won 102, Labour Party has 34 seats, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (18), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (four).
The Social Democratic Party and African Democratic Congress won two seats each while Young Progressive Party won one seat.
The CNCRA in its statement on Sunday said “Adamu should toe the path of honour and statesmanship by tendering his letter of resignation after the Governorship and House Assembly elections.
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