The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to ratify the choice of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as national chairman and Senator Ajibola Basiru as national secretary at its next meeting, it was learnt yesterday.
The decision followed the choice of the duo, by consensus, after the exit of the former chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to confirm the date of the NEC meeting at the NWC’s request.
Also, the NWC, NEC and the governors agreed that there should be a smooth transition and continuity of the pre-existing zoning formula for the composition of the party leadership.
A source said the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, met at Imo State Lodge, Abuja and endorsed Ganduje and Basiru.
A day after, governors and other party leaders, particularly members of the National Caucus, held a meeting with Ganduje and Basiru.
According to the source, the National Caucus, of which President Tinubu is a member, is expected to communicate to the NEC the decisions of the APC governors and other party blocs before the new chairman and secretary assume office after the NEC ratification.
Already, the decisions have also been communicated to the state chapters and the parliamentary caucuses.
Although the two nominees are expected to be ratified by the national convention, the APC constitution has vested the NEC with the power to act in lieu of the convention in an emergency.
According to the party’s constitution, one of the essential functions of the national convention is to elect new national officers.
However, the NEC is also empowered to perform the functions of the national convention in between conventions.
Article 13(ii) of the APC constitution states that the final authority of the party shall rest with the national convention.
It has the power to ratify policies and programmes of the party and elect or remove national officers.
Article 13.3 A (ii) vests in the NEC, which is the principal executive body of the party, power to summon or convene the national convention and prepare its agenda.
The NEC, under the constitution, can discharge all functions of the national convention in between national conventions.
Ganduje, a two-time governor of Kano State, is a household name in the party and country. He was Kano State deputy governor between 1999 and 2003 and between 2011 and 2015.
Basiru, who holds a doctorate degree in Law, served as Commissioner for Special Duties, and later Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice in Osun State.
He was elected into the 9th Senate from Osun Central District in 2019 and was the spokesman of the Senate.
Adamu and Omisore resigned last week, following complaints about a lack of accountability and non-inclusive leadership.
The former chairman and secretary were also accused of sidelining critical party organs, by not calling regular NWC meetings and failing to respect party constitution in respect of NEC.
Stakeholders never raised eyebrows over their exit, particularly because of the indictment in the party’s audit report.
APC National Vice Chairman (Northwest), Salihu Lukman, who reflected on Adamu’s voluntary resignation yesterday, told reporters in Abuja that it was not beyond expectation.
He said the party was not in a position to tolerate a disloyal and subversive leadership.
Although the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Abubakar Kyari, has been acting as chairman, party stakeholders resolved last week to choose new helmsmen without rupturing the North/South zoning arrangement.
