APC Governors in make or break meeting over controversial National Convention

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Governors elected on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday night entered into a crucial meeting which is most likely to determine the fate of the party, as the controversy trailing the National Convention of the party bites harder.

At at 9 O’clock last night, the Governors of the party, were led by the chairman of APC Governors Forum (PGF), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who is also the Governors of Kebbi State, to the all important meeting at Kebbi Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro area of Abuja.

At the time of filing this report, Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, who is also the Chairman of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party arrived at the meeting, including the Governors of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, Jigawa State, Mohammad Abubakar, Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu, Niger State, Abubakar Bello.

Others are Governors of: Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Deputy Governor of Anambra, Nkemakonam Okeke, Cross River State, Ben Ayade, Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun.

Also in attendance are: Governors of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, Ebonyi State, David Umahi, Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, Lagos State, Babajide Sanwolu, Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, Plateau State, Solomon Lalong, Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule and that of Kwara State, Abdulraman Abdulrazaq.

The meeting is expectedly to enable the Governors of APC arrive at a consensus on whether the party should postpone the proposed National Convention to allow the conduct of Congresses in about five outstanding States, including Anambra and Zamfara, as well as to resolve the outstanding internal crisis facing the party in some States, most of which are pending in the Courts.

Recall that last year, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, the APC National Convention was slated for February this year, but the date later became controversial as the CECPC allegedly wanted a shift to enable the National reconciliation committee of the party led by former Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, conclude their task.

Sources had said that the Buni led CECPC of the party had wanted an extension of the timeline, which was not acceptable to most of other APC Governors.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who sensed the grave consequences of the brewing crisis in the party, warned the ruling party politicians of the chances of losing the 2023 election to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

To this end, the last night meeting was to stave off the possibility of the ruling party imploding, by constructing a consensus among the Governors on if to extend the February convention date to allow Congresses in outstanding State and resolve all outstanding issues, or proceed with the process as earlier scheduled.

The meeting is still ongoing behind the closed doors as at the time of filing this report.