How APC NWC members became minorities in the Presidential Campaign Council

By Jude Opara

Certainly the last is yet to be heard concerning the membership of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections, which eventually have a majority of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) left out.

Since the list was made public on Saturday, there are feelers that many party stakeholders, including members of the NWC have been grumbling after they were either left out completely or given positions they considered below their office.

However, sources within the National Secretariait of the party revealed that the presidency was not too satisfied with the NWC over the conduct of the party primaries which took place recently, which influenced their low representation on the PCC.

A source, who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the presidency was unhappy with the various tales that trailed the primaries which resulted in many litigations and the failure of several serving members of the National Assembly members to have received tickets to contest the forthcoming general elections.

“I can tell you that a lot of the issues began from the primaries and they generated huge concerns within the Presidency. They believed that some members of the NWC did not effectively manage the process, and that affected their consideration for major roles in the campaign council,” the source said.

It was further revealed that despite the fact that several NWC members had allegedly lobbied for strategic positions, including the headship of directorates, most of them were rather ignored.

For instance, out of about 28 members of the NWC, only seven were listed in the PCC, and interestingly, none was considered for the leadership of any directorate.

According to the list, the NWC members appointed into the PCC are:

– Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, National Chairman – Vice Chairman II of the PCC;
– Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, National Secretary – Deputy Secretary of the PCC;
– Uguru Matthew Ofoke, National Treasurer – Secretary, Fundraising Directorate;
-Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary – Coordinating Deputy Director, Media and Strategic Communication;
– Murtala Aliyu Kankia, National Legal Adviser – Secretary, Legal Directorate;
– Dr. Mary A. Idele, National Women Leader – Secretary, Women Mobilisation Directorate; and
– Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader – Deputy Director, Youth Mobilisation.

Feelers at the party suggest that the development has fuelled speculation that the NWC was deliberately given subordinate roles, while the leadership of most directorates were assigned to former governors, ministers, lawmakers and other stakeholders.

It could be recalled that Peoples Daily had prior to the release of the PCC list, reported that some political heavyweights and some NWC members were positioning themselves to lead some strategic directorates and units.

While some big guns like Sen. Abdulaziz Yari and Governor Hope Uzodimma got their place as the Director General and Secretary of the PCC, some others were left in the cold.

However, there may be a window of opportunity for some of the expectant party members as indications have emerged that the presidency may have ordered that the PCC list be tinkered with.

It was gathered that some party leaders have expressed reservations with the obvious absence of several prominent figures who played significant roles during the APC’s successful 2023 presidential campaign from the present PCC.