Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Yesterday, indications emerged that most state chapters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, are now at odds with the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee, NWC, over disagreements regarding the allocation of funds realized from the sale of forms.
Although the APC was said to have made at least N30 billion from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2023 general elections, it was learned that the party paid N20 million to each state chapter.
“The state chapters are now complaining that they should have received at least N100 million from the proceeds of the sale of forms,” a party official said.
As a result, some chapters are threatening to return the N20 million sent to them by the party hierarchy.
“You may recall that this NEC loaned the Osun state chapter about N3 billion for the state’s last governorship election.” I’m not sure if the money was returned, but the state chapters are now upset that they were only given N20 million out of the billions of Naira made from the sale of forms. “They’re threatening to return the money to the party,” he explained. Meanwhile, the APC is currently operating on autopilot due to its inability to convene a meeting of its National Executive Committee NEC to review the powers of the NWC and ratify its presidential campaign council.
On April 20, this year, the APC NEC delegated its powers to the NWC to act on its behalf for the next 90 days. While the motion was moved by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, seconded it, according to the party’s National Secretary, Otunba Iyiola Omisore.
El-Rufai was said to have included a stipulation that the NEC meet at the end of the 90-day period to review its own decision.
While the 90-day period expired on July 20, the NEC was supposed to meet around that time.
However, the NWC decided to hold a NEC meeting in September, but the current crisis regarding the composition of the campaign council has prevented the party from holding its NEC.
