By David Lawani
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it did not discuss or reach any conclusion to zone its national chairmanship position to the North Central zone as quoted in some media publications.
Sen. James Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) gave this clarification on Monday in Abuja while reacting to the report.
The former Senator who spoke to Journalists in Abuja also noted that the controversial issue of zoning was not in the mandate of the CECPC.
According to him: ” I have the mandate to report whatever decision the CECPC takes and to the best of my knowledge, the committee has not discussed zoning,’’ he said.
He stated that with the party`s national convention fixed for February 2022, it was envisaged that the party members would come up with different zoning permutations.
“People are just flying what will favor their interest, all I know is that the caretaker committee has not discussed or reached a zoning decision,’’ he added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Victor Lar, Media Director of Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff Campaign Organisation described the purported report as laughable and a figment of the imagination of those who planted it.
Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff, a two-term governor of Borno, is a frontline aspirant for the APC chairmanship position.
“We find the purported story as very laughable because the organs of the party that are supposed to communicate that kind of information are not the ones communicating it.
“For that reason, we will take it with a pinch of salt.
“Again, the APC as a party has never adopted zoning, therefore, the story of it zoning its national championship position to the North Central can better be described as a figment of the imaginations of those who planted it.
“We find the report as the very poor scheming of people who are scared of contesting the position with Ali-Modu Sheriff,’’ Lar said.
He said it was obvious that the hard work of the Ali-Modu Sheriff and the way he was going about his campaigns in a calm and matured manner was beginning to ruffle other aspirants.
Lar stated that the race for the APC national chairmanship position was an open contest, saying that the best candidate should be allowed to emerge.
He said this was necessary for the party to be galvanized for victory in the 2023 general elections.
He asserted that Sheriff who was a two-term governor of Borno remained the best candidate for the APC national chairmanship position.
On the nod given by President Muhammadu Buhari for the party`s National Convention to hold in February 2022, Lar said there was a need for the party`s National Executive Committee (NEC) to meet and rectify the approval.
“Though we had commended the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) for taking the initiative to meet with President Buhari on the need for the party’s National Convention to be conducted.
“The decision to hold the convention in February 2022 has to be taken by the party’s NEC. The president does not have the constitutional powers to call for a meeting;
“Neither do the governors elected on the party’s platform. It is only the party’s NEC that can take such a decision as regards to when its national convention will hold.
“The February date must therefore be rectified by the party’s NEC to make it constitutional,“ he stressed.
Lar appealed to APC members and Sheriff`s teeming supporters to remain calm and focused, adding that;“ we are on course and victory is certain“.
He assures APC stakeholders and Nigerians generally that Sheriff would work amicably and with an open heart with everyone, irrespective of religion and tribe when he becomes the party`s next national chairman by God’s grace and with their support.
APC will not be distracted by paid, misguided group – Akpanudoedehe
He said presidential aspirants should not have any fear or doubt about Sheriff, adding that he is a man of integrity whose words remained his bound.
Lar said Sheriff will not go back on his words once spoken saying the former Borno governor was in the race for the APC national chairmanship because of his desire to take the party to the highest level.
According to him, Sheriff`s desire is to build on the legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“He will never be in opposition to any APC governors who are the party’s leader in their respective states because he has great regards for them and cannot work for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, he said.
