CREDIT: THIS DAY
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
Party shelves convention for fear of crisis
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently making moves to replace members of its National Working Committee (NWC) who were appointed to serve in the federal administration.
THISDAY gathered from a credible source yesterday that the party is considering appointing new members of the NWC who will serve in acting capacity pending the next convention.
Three NWC members including, the former National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Vice Chairman (North East), Bukachir David Lawal, National Welfare Officer (North-west) recently left their offices to assume duties as government appointees.
With their departure, the members of the NWC was reduced to 17 thereby leaving the respective zone without a representative in that vital organ of the party.
Although several members from the affected zones had expressed interest in occupying the vacated positions, the party told them to wait until the next convention date.
However, the option of organising a mini convention was considered as a hard choice to make due to the current unhealthy relationships existing among some top leaders.
Therefore the source said the considered view of most members of the NWC, convening a national convention at this time, may be a costly mistake for the party to make.
There are fears that such convention might throw up fresh moves against some of the leaders, especially from those who are angry over the leadership style of the current NWC and others still seeking opportunity to get back at the leadership of the senate and the House of Representatives.
“Majority of the NWC members think that convention, no matter it’s nomenclature will throw up more crisis, and may lead to more tussle and conflict of interests that will not augur well for the stability of the ruling party. They are more comfortable with the option of appointing replacements which is allowed by the party’s constitution,” he said.
THISDAY learnt that the NWC’s latest move to fill the vacant positions was made more urgent following the face-off it was having with the deputy spokesman, Timi Frank and the controversy being generated by a directive ceding his job temporarily to the National Secretary.
The situation became worse recently when Frank was said to have threatened to sue the party leadership to court if it continued to allow the secretary to usurp his functions.
Following gap created by the absence of a clear-cut arrangement for responding to numerous issues pertaining to the defence of its interest in the media, the the NWC has directed the legal department to carefully study the relevant sections of the party’s constitution and to recommend an option on how it can fill the vacant posts.
A source who was privy to the recommendations made by the legal department said the unit had submitted its report through a memo to the national chairman of the party advising that appointments be made to replace the NWC members so that can function in acting capacity for the meantime.
According to the source, these appointment could be announced early in the new year after due consultations.
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