APC Convention: Gov AbdulRazak heads 8-member zoning committee

. I‘ll abide by Buhari’s chairmanship choice – Sheriff

OBIORA IFOH, Abuja

Ahead of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the National Chairman of the party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni has approved the appointment of the Party’s zoning committee for the exercise.

In a statement by the National Secretary, CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudodehe on Wednesday, the party appointed Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazak as Chairman while the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke  will serve as the Secretary of the committee.

Other members include Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege  as the Deputy Chairman; Prof.  Etim Nyong,  Dr. MB Shehu, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, Sen. Teslim Folarin and Alh. Sadeeq Sule-Iko Sami as members.

The Committee is expected to submit its report on Monday 7th March, 2022.

APC has said it will hold its convention in March 26 where a new executive of the party will be produced.

It is believed that the committee will finally laid to rest the controversy over the zone that will produce the chairmanship position of the party as all the three zones in the North are laying claims to the slot.

 Meanwhile, former Governor of Borno State and a national chairmanship aspirant, Senator Alimodu Sheriff, has declared that he will abide by whatever decision President Muhammadu Buhari makes on who becomes the next national chairman of the ruling party.

Sheriff, who said he is in the race to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of his strength of character, capacity and competence, added that his intentions were clear and explicitly for public good rather than self-interest.

Buhari was said to have endorsed a former governor of Nasarawa state Senator Abdullhi Adamu, as a consensus chairmanship candidate but there was no official communication to the effect yet.

Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Abuja on the purported endorsement of one of the chairmanship aspirants, the former governor said he was not aware of any official statement or position by President Buhari on endorsement of any particular candidate or zoning of the Chairmanship position.

Sheriff said: “As a loyal party member, I will abide by decisions of Mr. President at any time he makes an official decision on zoning or endorsement of any particular candidate. I have unequivocal confidence in Mr. President’s capacity to make the right choice for the growth of our party.

“Of late, I have been inundated by insinuations and rumors that President Muhammadu Buhari has zoned and endorsed a candidate for this all important position in our party’s leadership.

“It has become very pertinent and exigent to address these concerns.

“First and foremost, I am not aware of any official statement or position by Mr. President on endorsement of any particular candidate or/and zoning of the Chairmanship position of our great party. Mr. President and indeed the Party is yet to issue a formal Statement on these issues.

“I am in the race for the National Chairmanship position of our party APC because of my strength of character, capacity and competence. My intentions are clear and explicitly for public good rather than self-interest.”