By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday announced the names of officers to fill vacant NWC and zonal positions of the Party.
The announcement was made by the Party’s National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru during a media briefing on the outcome of the NWC meeting held at the APC National Secretariat.
Those to occupy the seven vacant positions are: Deputy National Chairman, North (North East Zone) – Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno State), National Vice Chairman, North West (North West Zone) – Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad* (Kaduna State).
Others are: National Legal Adviser (North Central Zone) – Prof. Abdul Karim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa State), National Welfare Secretary (South East Zone) – Hon. Donatus Nwankpa (Abia State), National Women Leader (South South Zone) – Mary Alile Idele, PhD (Edo State).
Also listed are: Deputy National Publicity Secretary (North Central Zone) – Duro Meseko (Kogi State) and Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central Zone) – Ikani Shuaibu Okolo (Kogi State).
Speaking to journàlists while unveiling the list, National Secretary of the party, Ajibola Bashiru said work is in advance stage on the composition of the campaign council for the off season gubernatorial elections, adding that hopefully next week, the list will be out.
“We also had discussion around how to expand the membership of the party in between the general election.
“During the last NEC meeting, the NEC empowered the NWC of the party to fill the existing vacancies occasioned due to resignation and death of the national welfare officer of the party.”
Responding to questions on if there will be election to ratify those appointed to occupy the seven vacant positions, Bashiru said it was wrong to assume they were appointed, even as he emphasized that they were elected.
“You are acting based on assumption, their is no appointments, they were elected. The constitution of the party article 13 gave the NEC power to act in between election, the same NEC in the meeting of 3rd August empowered the NWC with the delegation of power to act in filling the vacant positions. So, we acted in line with the constitution of our party”, he said.
Speaking on the strategy of the party to win the off-season governorship election, the secretary said “I cannot sit down here and disclose to you our strategies as a politician in good faith. But I know that we are working on the strategies to win the forthcoming election.”
