Protem Nat Exco Divides APC Govs

Two days after the fledgling opposition merger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) formally presented application for registration to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), governors under the new party are yet to agree on a Proteim  National Executive.

The choices of who become chairman, vice and secretary among other national offices was in serious contention and could not be resolved before the party’s application.

As a result, the merger’s leadership had shifted the responsibility to the governors under the merging parties to address.

But after a meeting which held at the Lagos State office in Abuja, the APC governors could not arrive at a consensus as none was willing to shift ground .

The APC governors include Adams Oshomhole (ACN) Edo, Kayode Fayemi (ACN) Ekiti, Owelle  Rochas Okorocha (APGA) Imo, Babatunde Fashola (ACN) Lagos, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, (CPC) Nasarawa and Ibikunle Amosun (ACN)   Ogun. Others are Rauf Aregbeosola (ACN) Osun, Isiaka Abiola Ajumobi, (ACN) Oyo, Ibrahim Gedam (ANPP) Yobe, Abdul-Aziz Yari Abubakar, (ANPP) Zamfara and Kashim Shetima, (ANPP) Borno.

With the factionalisation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), while Rochas Okoorocha of Imo is favourably disposed to APC, his Anambra State counter part, Peter Obi (APGA) is not. Also not keen on such merger is the Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko (Labour Party).

This leaves  the APC with governors of 11 states, on whose shoulders rest the duty of resolving the stalemate

But by press time, the issues remain unresolved, while the CPC insists on distribution of key national positions based on representation in the National Assembly, the ANPP has continued to insist on number of states controlled by governors.

As a result of the impasse, chairmen and secretaries of the three merging political parties of ACN, CPC and ANPP, known to have held their party conventions were authorised to sign the merger application, as against the INEC requirement that a protem  executive make such request for registration.

It remains to be seen what INEC’s response will be.