In a strange move, the former governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, has shelled out N20 million to pick the All Progressives Congress (APC) form to contest to be its national chairman.
Also, Senator Barnabas Gemade led a delegation to pick the same form for former Benue Governor, Senator George Akume.
Yari is not bothered by the ruling party’s zoning arrangement, ceding the position to the north-central zone, where Akume hails from.
As far as he is concerned, the office of National Chairman was zoned to the north and presidency to the south.
The director-general of his campaign organisation, Mr. Lawrence Onuchukwu, told journalists on Wednesday at APC national secretariat: “As far as we are concerned their are contending issues concerning zoning. First of all, we are fully aware that the national championship has been zoned to the north and the presidency has been zoned to the South. As you are aware that all positions of the party that were hitherto in the south will go to the north. Zamfara being in the north is well qualify.
“We are very ready for the convention come 26th, Yari being one of the founding fathers of this great party and has contributed immensely and greatly to the betterment and welfare of this party. He is ready to lead the party and will not allow it to die.
“What the party needs now is a unifier. This was a party which was formed by the coming together of many parties. If care is not taken, the party will be so divided but Yari as a founding father will ensure that the party does not disintegrate.”
A delegation led by Senator Tijjani was at the APC national secretariat to pick his form.
Gemade answering journalists’ questions after obtaining the nomination form for Akume said of his chances: “Well you asked me a tough question. How can you ask a contestant what his chances are? His chances are good. Now everyone of them if you ask them, they will tell you their chances are good. And we know that God knows the winner and we believe that His mercies are good for us and at the end of the day, we will be satisfied with whatever our God does for us.
On whether Akume would prefer the party adopting the concensus mode of picking the Chairman, the former Minister of works said: “Whatever the party chooses. The party has the final say. If at the end of the day, the party is able to consummate a consensus exercise for this contest, we agree with it. However, if they decide there should be a balloting for this contest we will go with the balloting and whatever the outcome is we will accept.
Recall that during its regular meeting on March 8, 2022, the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had approved the recommendations of the Committee on Zoning as detailed below:
NORTH-CENTRAL: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau States
1. National Chairman
2. National Vice Chairman (North Central)
3. Deputy National Secretary
4. Deputy National Legal Adviser
5. Deputy National Publicity Secretary
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
SOUTH-SOUTH: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States
1. National Vice Chairman (South South)
2. National Publicity Secretary
3. National Women Leader
4. Deputy National Treasurer
5. Deputy National Welfare Secretary
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
SOUTH – WEST: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States
1. National Secretary
2. National Vice Chairman
3. National Youth Leader
4. Deputy National Auditor
5. Zonal Secretary
6. Zonal Youth Leader
7. Zonal Organising Secretary
8. Zonal Women Leader
9. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
10. National Ex – Officio Member
SOUTH-EAST: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States
1. Deputy National Chairman (South)
2. National Vice Chairman (South East)
3. National Treasurer
4. National Welfare Secretary
5. Deputy National Organising Secretary
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
NORTH – EAST: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States
1. Deputy National Chairman (North)
2. National Auditor
3. National Vice Chairman (North East)
4. Deputy National Financial Secretary
5. Deputy National Women Leader
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organisig Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
NORTH -WEST: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States
1. National Vice Chairman (North West)
2. National Legal Adviser
3. National Organising Secretary
4. National Financial Secretary
5. Deputy National Youth Leader
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex-Officio Member
“Zonal Representatives on the CECPC wil coordinate the process in each zones.”
The post of National disabled leader is zoned to the Federal Capital Territory.