BY EZEOCHA NZEH
The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is currently in a battle for survival as plot thickens to remove him from office. And to ward off any possible embarrassment sources said he has commenced efforts to lobby top echelon of the party to either support his continued stay in office or give him a soft landing.
This is as the party has fixed September 19 as date for its long expected National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting
In the last few weeks, many APC stakeholders have demanded for the convocation of NEC meeting amid crisis and agitation for the removal of the embattled chairman who was appointed in August 2023 by president Bola Tinubu to replace former National Chairman, Senator Abdulahi Adamu, who was forced to resign, following allegations that he did not support the president during the 2023 elections.
Ganduje’s appointment has since then met strong opposition, especially from the North central zone stakeholders of the party, who saw it as usurpation of the zone’s right, having been awarded that office during the sharing of position ahead of the APC National convention in 2022
The stakeholders have demanded for the removal of the Kano state governor and return of the office to party loyalist from the North central zone
Sources disclosed that the embattled national chairman of the party has since his controversial emergence engaged several APC governors for their support. He was also said to have reached out to several state chairmen of the party, seeking for a massive vote of confidence to save his seat
However, sources claim that President Bola Tinubu may have agreed with suggestions that the embattled former Kano state governor be removed from office, and the position returned to North central zone of the country
The president’s decision it was further gathered was to give him a soft landing, following his ongoing alleged corruption trial by Kano state government
“The chairman is in a battle to survive, he has remained a loyal party man, and has done much to move the APC forward to the standard it deserves
He is still consulting with some of his APC governor friends and state chairmen, and may survive a vote of confidence at the upcoming NEC,” a source close to the chairman told NNS
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved September19, as date for the meetings of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC.
The date was conveyed to the APC National Working Committee (NWC), through a letter by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday..
President Tinubu’s letter entitled, “Recommendation for the conduct of APC National Executive Committee Meeting and Midterm National Convention (Non elective), ” addressed to Ganduje led National Working Committee read in part:”Your Excellency, your previous correspondence on the above subject refers.
“I am directed by the president to inform that he has granted approval for the scheduling and convening of a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. The president has confirmed his availability for the NEC meeting between the date of 8 September 2024 and 19th September 2024.
“Furthermore, the president has directed that the agenda for the NEC meeting include, amongst other things; the consideration of a date for the non- elective national convention to be held before the end of the year 2024.
“Kindly liaise with the undersigned regarding any development or necessary clarifications related to the scheduling of the meeting.
“Please ensure that any changes or updates are communicated promptly to facilitate smooth coordination”