A resolution that was reportedly adopted unanimously by members of
the All Progressives Congress National Executive Committee (APC-NEC) has
given the current National Working Committee (NWC) an approval to
continue overseeing the affairs of the party for another one year in the
absence of a valid convention.
The resolution, adopted on Monday afternoon at the party’s headquarters
in Abuja, could see John Odigie-Oyegun remain the chairman of the party
until after the 2019 elections.
“If for reasons of inability to fulfill constitutional and or legal
conditions requisite for the conduct of a valid elective congress or
convention, then the party may as a last resort leverage on the NEC
resolution of February 27, 2018 which in our view is lawful in the
circumstances,” according to item five of the resolution.
Davies Ibiamu-Ikanya, the chairman of APC in Rivers State, moved the
five-item resolution. It was seconded by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue
State and adopted by NEC members.
It was not immediately clear why there were no dissenting voices
prior to the adoption of the resolution, which appears to favour Mr
Odigie-Oyegun.
Mr Odigie-Oyegun and other members of the current NWC had previously
secured a nod to extend their tenure by one year due to a myriad of
internal squabbles in some state chapters. The members also said the
extension would help the party minimise the crisis that holding
elections in troubled states could throw up.
But the February 27 plan was scuttled after President Muhammadu
Buhari withdrew his support and said it would be better if the party
conducts congresses across the country. The president believes doing so
would save the party legal troubles ahead of general elections.
The president’s turn-around was seen as a capitulation to Bola
Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor and prominent party leader, who
has been pushing hard to ease Mr Odigie-Oyegun out of office.
But with the latest decision by NEC, it seems the APC has returned
the decision of holding the congress for elective positions to Mr
Odigie-Oyegun.
Other items in the resolution include a “21 days statutory notice
for the holding of elective congress and convention be given to INEC
immediately,” it said.
“The current zoning formula for the party offices be retained,” item three of the resolution said.
Item four said “Requirements of the article 31(iii) be waived in line
with the provisions of article 13.4 (xv) to avoid disruption in the
management of party affairs at all levels.”
This could allow Mr
Odigie-Oyegun remain in office until the convention. Considering Mr
Odigie-Oyegun’s alledged opposition to the convention, some commentators
have said they won’t be surprised if he decided to use the power to his
advantage.