Crisis looms in APC: State chairmen reject direct primaries

The division over whether to use direct or indirect primaries at all levels, is generating some ripples in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). At its National Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, the party agreed that its presidential aspirants will face the direct primary test, while the governorship and other cadres would opt for the indirect option, depending on what the particular settles for. However, 24 hours after, the APC, through its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, changed position, declaring that all primaries would be resolved through the direct primary. And in a show of anger, the APC stakeholders, particularly the 36 state chairmen of the party, including the FCT, yesterday held a closed-door meeting where they agreed to disassociate themselves from the NEC decision. Similarly, the forum of APC state chairmen might also be considering a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomohle over the decision. It was, however, gathered that some governors seeking re-election are allegedly behind the Abuja meeting of the state chairmen. The meeting which was earlier scheduled to hold at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja was later moved secretly to another hotel immediately the party leadership got wind of the ‘plot.’ We won’t tolerate indiscipline – APC Consequent upon this, the APC, through its spokesman, Mr. Nabena, raised the alarm, threatening to deal with dissenting voices. In a statement yesterday, the party described the meeting as illegal and not in tune with its policy direction. Nabena said: “We want to state clearly that the meeting which has been fixed for 2.00pm is illegal and an attempt to puncture the sincere efforts being made by the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC to reposition our party ahead the 2019 general elections, and to ensure unity, equity and justice in the party. “The outcome of such meeting, which is already known, will be a nullity, and we admonish our members to disregard such meetings in the interest of the party. It is illegal to call such meetings outside the purview of the constituted authority. “The identities of those plotting such meetings have been identified and unless they desist from such, they will be dealt with in line with the party’s constitution at the appropriate time.” According to Nabena, the Oshiomhole-led NWC “will resist any attempt to disrupt the current peace and harmony prevailing in our great party after the exit of some members of our party. “We urge any member who is not satisfied with the decisions of the party to utilise channels provided by the party’s constitution to air their views. “We remain focused in delivering good governance to Nigerians, and above all, ensuring the victory for our party come 2019, and we will not be intimidated by the antics of a few in ensuring success for our party.“ When Blueprint visited the Barcelona Hotel where the 36 state chairmen and FCT had the meeting, newsmen were not allowed into the premises. However, a source at the meeting who later volunteered to speak on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the state party leaders “will do everything possible to resist imposition of direct primary, including passing a vote of no confidence on Comrade Oshiomhole-led NWC. “Majority of the state chairmen are here and those that could not make it sent representatives. We are talking and our resolutions will be made known to public very soon, but it won’t be today (Sunday) because we are still consulting and meeting,” the source stated. The meeting was temporarily disrupted when some chairmen volunteered to speak with newsmen, but were barred. Journalists were later urged to take their leave of the meeting. The meeting, it was observed, also had in attendance some NWC members including Deputy National Youth Leader and some Ex-officios who moved against the decision on direct primaries. Earlier resentment APC National Vice Chairman, North-east, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, had, during a press briefing week last week, accused some leaders of the party from the South-west of allegedly plotting to foster regional imperialism on the party. ‘I’m not afraid of free, fair polls’ Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, has declared that as a beneficiary of free and fair elections, he is not afraid of a credible process in 2019. To this effect, the President reaffirmed his commitment to making sure that the 2019 polls, under his watch, would be free, fair and credible. Speaking at an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community, yesterday in Beijing, China, the President pledged that Nigerians eligible to vote in the next general elections will be allowed to freely elect candidates of their choice. “I have no fear about free and fair elections because that is what brought me to the present position. I know what I went through and very few Nigerians could boast of trying four times (contesting for the presidency) “Those interested in participating in the elections must get their PVCs, register in their constituency and elect anybody of their choice across ethnicity and religion. The Nigerian police, law enforcement agencies and INEC must respect the people to express their wishes,” he said. Citing recent elections in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi states, the President said the country had made progress relative to elections conducted in the past years. Security On security issues, President Buhari reaffirmed that the federal government has succeeded in curtailing Boko Haram insurgents in the country, adding that the terrorist group no longer control any part of the country. He attributed the success to operations of security agencies deployed to counter insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country. “You will all recall that we contested the last election basically on three issues, which include security, especially in the Northeast. The Boko Haram used to occupy quite a number of local governments in Borno state, but they are not in anyone now. They have resorted to a very dangerous way of terrorism by indoctrinating young people, mostly girls and attacking soft targets, churches, mosques and marketplaces,” the president said. On herders and farmers clashes in Nigeria, he told Nigerians in the Diaspora that while security agencies are doing their best to curtail the clashes, the Nigerian media need to complement the efforts through objective and informed reportage. Pleads with media The President appealed to the Nigerian media to make an attempt at understanding the cultural and historical implications of some of the misunderstanding between herders and farmers. He said, to his “disappointment, there are a number of things which the members of the press in Nigeria do not make enough efforts, in my observation, to study the historical antecedents of issues that are creating national problems for us.” President Buhari explained that due to the effects of climate change, a farm that used to belong to five people now belong to 50 people, the weather condition, particularly the rainy season is now unpredictable. He partly blamed the incessant farmers and herdsmen controversy on the shrinking of the Lake Chad, which, according to him, has forced many cattle nomads to seek greener pastures for their herds in other parts of the country. Nigeria-China relations On Nigeria-China relations, the President applauded China’s generosity and contribution to the development of Nigeria, citing the successful completion of the AbujaKaduna railway line, built by the Chinese, and ongoing works on Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin, Abuja, and Kano railway routes. He said Nigeria and China are also negotiating on the Mambilla project. President Buhari advised Nigerians planning to travel abroad for “greener pastures” to do so legitimately and not to expect too much from their countries of destination. According to him, “you cannot seek greener pastures in a place where you are not respected because of the colour of your skin or your lack of education or other things. Personally, I think you will earn more respect when you remain at home and get a job.” Acknowledging the material and intellectual support of Nigerians in the Diaspora to the development of Nigeria, the President assured that the present administration would remain focused and committed to providing the needed infrastructure and doing the needful for Nigeria’s prosperity. Earlier in his remarks, the Nigerian Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmed-Jidda thanked the President for his support to the Embassy, which led to the completion of the Ambassador’s residence. The envoy praised Nigerians resident in the various province of China for being law abiding with the exception of few. On consular matters, the envoy told the President Nigerians still faced difficulties in the process of obtaining Chinese visas – an issue he thinks the President should take up with the Chinese authority. Also speaking, the President of the China Chapter of Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation, Brian Akiti, while wishing the country successful elections in 2019, pledged the support of the organisation to the present administration’s development agenda. In a separate event, the President also met with Nigerian students on scholarship in China. “I hope you will make the best use of this opportunity given to you. Nigeria is grateful to China for extending this generosity to us. The Chinese are helping Nigeria greatly with building infrastructure, it is very much appreciated. We are pleased with the training they providing for our Nigerian Students,” he said. The President also met with the executives of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), during which he lauded the construction group for their immense contributions to infrastructure development in Nigeria.

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