Posted By: Yusuf Alli On: June 10, 2018 In: Featured , News , News Update
•South-West Minister implicated in plot against Buhari, APC •Cracks in nPDP as leaders weigh defection options •PDP tactically extends deadline for Imoke’s committee
There
was anxiety yesterday over alleged plot to disrupt the June 23 National
Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by some aggrieved
leaders and members of the party.
One of the suspected brains
behind the plot is a Minister from the South-West who is alleged to have
had a midnight session with some party leaders from his state at the
weekend in Abuja.
The said leaders were first camped in
Gwagwalada Council Area but were later driven under the cover of
darkness to Abuja Municipal Council for further briefing.
Authoritative
party sources said yesterday that a massive plot was developing and
urgent steps must be taken to calm frayed nerves and stop the alleged
plan to frustrate and divide the APC during the convention.
Investigation
showed that the plot is being hatched mainly by party members who are
aggrieved by the conduct of the recent congresses; those who want to
create a defection scene; those opposed to the defection of certain
leaders from PDP to APC; a few others who are feeling marginalized by
the government and the party leadership; and those allegedly being used
by the opposition party to infiltrate APC.
One of the sources
said that although the party leadership is looking forward to a
hitch-free convention, “some leaders and members are plotting to scuttle
it either through a court process or by creating a split in the party
on June 23.”
““Those behind this plot have reneged on the
agreement to make ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole as the sole candidate of
the party. They want to sponsor more candidates for the office of
national chairman of APC,” the source said.
He added: “while some
are plotting to defect from APC to another party on convention day, a
few others want to form a parallel party organ in order to cause
confusion.
“We also got privileged information of moves to supply placards to some APC members to embarrass top leaders of the party.”
One of those suspected of plotting to cause embarrassment is the Southwest minister.
The source said the minister “is just out to join forces to embarrass top APC leaders on the convention ground.”
The source added: “we are however being proactive to checkmate all these evil plans and have a stress-free gathering.”
Contest for National Secretary raises tempo
Sources
identified the contest for the position of the party’s national
secretary as one of the most contentious issues likely to face the party
at the convention.
Northeast governors of the party are said to
be resisting moves by some forces who are encouraging a former National
Chairman of PDP, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff to produce the next national
secretary of the party.
Sheriff recently rejoined the party after flirting with the PDP.
Four
contenders have emerged for the office of National Secretary of the
party; the incumbent, Mallam Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); a cerebral
politician, Kashim Imam (Borno); Buhari’s ardent loyalist, Waziri
Bulama; and Dr. Haruna Yerima.
A Governors’ Forum source
said: “Sheriff is backing Kashim Imam (Borno) but Governor Ibrahim
Gaidam is pleading with his colleagues to retain the slot in Yobe since
Borno State has cornered many juicy appointments.
“So far, Yobe,
Borno, Adamawa, and I think leaders from Gombe and Taraba have agreed
that Yobe should produce the party’s secretary. The governor of Bauchi
State is being expected to tag along with his colleagues.”
“Some
strategists of the President, party leaders and Sheriff prefer either
Kashim Imam or Waziri Bulama from Buhari Support Organization.
“Although
the governors have been extremely loyal to the President, they might
not guarantee him success at the poll in 2019 if the party’s secretariat
is handed over to Sheriff.”
When contacted, a member of the
National Convention Committee said: “Some members of this committee have
heard of plans to disrupt the convention but we cannot authoritatively
confirm it.
“All I can tell you is that the Convention Committee will work round the clock to make it a successful one.”
Cracks in nPDP as leaders weigh defection options
It was also gathered that the leaders of the nPDP are no longer unanimous in their plan to dump the APC for the PDP.
Some of leaders are currently weighing options on whether to leave or not.
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