APC Convention: Security tightened in Abuja as govs take control of party

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are having the last laugh over the composition of a new National Working Committee, with all agreeing to accept nominations made by individual governor, for his state, without any form of scrutiny.

The police on Friday tightened security in Abuja and particulerly at the Eagle Square, venue of today’s convention.

APC’s “Unity arrangement” is expected to produce the “Unity list” which would be presented at today’s convention in Abuja.

The governors’ decision was also reportedly strengthened by an approval by President Muhammadu Buhari that to maintain some level of decorum in the party, governors in states being ruled by the party, should emerge the automatic leader of the party in such states.

The presidential seal, has reportedly seen some hitherto endangered governors, regaining the ultimate political influence in their states and subsequently joining their colleagues last night, to nominate their associates to fill the NWC slots allocated to their states.

The governors began a meeting at about 10 pm last night, to put a final touch, to the Unity list.

One governor who has regained political control of his state chapter following the presidential approval and colleagues’ decision, was Rochas Okorocha of Imo State.

As of 7pm on Friday, it was gathered that he had removed the name of Senator Osita Izunaso as the NWC representative from Imo State.

Izunaso is the outgoing National Organizing Secretary and had been adopted by the South-East caucus to retain the position.

He has been at the forefront of a partially-successful bid to wrestle the control of the party from the governor in the state and the South-East.

To further underscore the new-found influence of the governors, the nearly-successful efforts of some stakeholders in the North-East and Borno State, to stop the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni from continuing in office, were thwarted at the last-minute on Friday by the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima.

Shettima reportedly presented his name to his colleague as the party nominee from the state and when eyebrows were reportedly raised, the governor was said to have asked his colleagues what was their business with his nominee when he wasn’t querying theirs.

Buni, who has the support of Buhari, was subsequently accepted by Shettima’s colleagues, despite the preference of some, for Kashim Imam, the 1999 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to APC.

Imam is largely seen as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s associate.

But checks revealed that the Unity List has generated uproar in the south east and south south geo-political zones as  entrenched groups continue to insist that it was undemocratic and smack of imposition.

States chairmen of the party from Anambra,  Enugu and Anambra at a press briefing yesterday kicked against the Unity List. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Enugu state chairman, Ben Nwoye said the list would not serve the interest of the party leaders in South east. Recall that certain leaders of the party at a meeting held last month at Sheraton hotel,  Abuja  had passed resolution adopting George Moghalu, Senator Osita Isunaso, Emma Eneuwu, outgoing national auditor, national organising secretary and national vice chairman, respectively for a fresh four-year mandate. But feelers from the camp of the APC governors indicate that embattled Imo State governor,  Rochas Okorocha who lost out in the   power play in his home state has succeeded in convincing his colleagues to rubbish the adoption of the incumbent occupants of the positions zoned to South east.t

Flanked by Eze Nwachukwu Eze and Donatus Nwankpa, chairmen of Ebonyi and  Abia states,   Obasi said his zone would reject outcome of any election conducted with Unity List.He said: “You cannot have a unity list when one geo-political zone is not considered. That is a misnomer,  you cannot consider that to be a unity list. If you meet in a hall where you have governors and South-east has just one governor, and that one governor is the only opinion you took out of  five states and you produce a list, that is not a unity list.

“In fact, that is a disunity list and the only way you can correct the disunity list is through democratic list.

It can cause disaffection and cost Mr. President votes in South east

“We are doing this not because of us. You cannot disregard Jim Nwobodo, you can’t disregard Orji Uzor Kalu, Ogbonaya Onu, Chris Ngige, Martin Elechi, Sulivan Chime, Andy Ubah, Ugbo Orji,  and state chairmen. These are great leaders.

“If you produce a list that  affronts  the needs, demands and opinions of these leaders, that means we will go back to 2015 when we were all unable to contribute to votes.

“We are hearing moves  to upturn the resolution of south east caucus.  We won’t allow new members hijack the party from those who fought  to build APC. So we vehemently oppose move to ditch the National auditor and national organising secretary  and national vice chairman. Every politics is local, outsiders can not dictate to us.

“We want our zonal leaders to  return at this time,  we want them to be in charge now that we are preparing for elections.

“We aren’t against consensus or harmonisation or unity list but it must take cognisance of the local politics of those affected. Our hope is that the party will continue to provide leadership for the people of Nigeria . If we are craving for continuity for Mr President, why not for those who have fared well in the NWC?

“We from the south east,  we are republican in nature and the party must take cognisance of that and allow election to be held not imposition of candidates.

“It is wrong for governors outside our zone and leaders to decide for us who represents the zone in the National Working Committee.”

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Police deploy 5,000 personnel

The Nigeria Police Force, on Friday, announced strict security measures as approved by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris towards the peaceful conduct of the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, holding at Eagle Square, Abuja today.

According to a statement made available to news men in Abuja, on Friday, by the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, DCP Jimoh Moshood, a total number of 5,000 Police Personnel comprising, the Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Protection Unit (SPU), the Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD), the Police Mounted Troop, the Dog Section (K9), the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), the Police Air-wing and the Force Armament Unit have been deployed for the exercise.

The FPRO stated that the operation would be under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations and that this became necessary in order to ensure adequate security for all the accredited participants at the convention.

He stated that security coverage has been provided at all the accreditation centers.

According to him, in addition, two police helicopters, six  Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) are already deployed for the security of the convention while personnel of other security and safety agencies were also being deployed to complement the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring adequate security and a hitch-free convention.

APC holding convention with looted fund —PDP

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is organising its national convention with funds stolen from public coffers.

According to a statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, it’s National Publicity Secretary in Abuja, on Friday, the ruling party has become a laughing stock and a huge joke among Nigerians following the inability of its leaders to resist the imposition of an individual overburdened by corruption allegations as its new leader.

The statement added: “It is sickening to note that the entire APC convention is a celebration of corruption organised to crown dishonest and fraudulent individuals, who ordinarily should be guests at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) offices across the nation.

“With this, the APC has finally capped itself a party of corruption, deceit and lies, where alleged treasury looters are robed as kings and where all decency have been thrown overboard for official hooliganism,” he said.