A combined photos of Ganduje, Basiru
By Our ReporterÂ
Barring any last minute manipulation, immediate past Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and Senator Ajibola Basiru will emerge chairman and secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC is expected to ratify the choice of the duo at the next meeting of the party.
Sources informed NATIONAL WAVES that the duo have been pencilled down to run the affairs of the party following the exit the former chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
The source also squealed that
President Bola Tinubu is expected to confirm the date of the NEC meeting at the NWC’s request.
“Yes, I can tell you for free that plans have been concluded to ratify Abdullahi Ganduje and Ajibola Basiru as chairman and secretary respectively. 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”
The source also hinted this medium that the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, met at Imo State Lodge, Abuja and endorsed Ganduje and Basiru.
” On account of the endorsement, the governors and other party leaders, particularly members of the National Caucus, held a meeting with Ganduje and Basiru a day after” said the source.
Based on this development,
decisions have 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.
The Nation reports that 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
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.
