APC Leadership: Oyegun, NWC Get Tenure Extension

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Underhand political intrigues and maneuverings took the centre stage on Tuesday as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) extended the tenure of its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, the National Working Committee (NWC), the 36 States and FCT executives by one year.

Effective from June this year, the decision, reached at the NEC meeting in Abuja, has pushed the new tenure to June 2019 after the expiration of the current term on June 30, 2018.

The tenure elongation has effectively put the Chief Oyegun-led NWC in charge of the governing APC’s electioneering activities for the 2019 general polls.

Attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Oyegun and other party chieftains, the meeting was however shunned by the Senate president, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

It is the second time that Senator Saraki has absented himself from the gathering of APC’s top shots having missed out on Monday evening when the President played host to the APC caucus at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

The meeting, held at the APC Headquarters in Abuja, had in attendance Governors, Ministers and top members of the governing party

Ahead of Tuesday’s NEC meeting, the Forum of APC State Chairmen had on Monday ‘unanimously resolved’ to propose a two-year tenure extension for Oyegun and the NWC.

A statement by the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi said: “At the end of the 5th meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC), it was generally agreed by members to extend the tenure of all elected and appointed officers of the Party in the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the national level. The current tenure will end on June 30, 2018.”

According to him, “By this decision, all affected officers will continue in acting capacity for another period of 12 months after the expiration of their current term.”

“NEC also by unanimous decision, passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun”, the statement said.

Meanwhile, inside sources said the development may not be unconnected with the grand plan by some Party top shots in liaison with the cabal to formally kick-start the second term project of President Buhari by ensuring all the APC’s structure are fully under the Presidency’s control going into the party primaries later this year.

The sources also hinted that the absence of Saraki and Dogara at the meeting is a pointer to the undercurrents which may soon explode with the  exodus of many National Assembly members from the APC.