More than a year without a substantive National Secretary, a new Chief Scribe for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will be unveiled next month at a forthcoming caucus meeting of the party’s North/East zone.
The North/East Zonal Leaders of APC disclosed this Monday after a meeting in Abuja, even as they denied a letter in circulation claiming that a certain candidate has been endorsed for the vacant position.
The position of APC National Secretary became vacant last year following the nomination and subsequent election of Mai Mala-Buni who held the office as Governor of Yobe State.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, APC North/East Zonal Publicity Secretary, Ilyasu Habeeb said the vacant position of National Secretary has been micro-zoned to Borno and Yobe States.
“We have directed the two states involved to meet and endorse a candidate for the position. They will present the endorsed candidate for final confirmation during our next zonal caucus meeting latest by next month February for final recommendation and presentation to the national leadership of the party”, Habeeb declared.
In a communique’ raised after the meeting and read by the Zonal Publicity Secretary, the North/East APC frowned at a letter going round for the endorsement of a particular candidate for National Secretary.
According to the comminque’, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan has been unanimously endorsed as the Chairman and Party Leader of APC North-East caucus.
“Whereas, after exhaustive discussion on the progress and unity of our great party, the All Progressives Congress North East Zone hereby resolve as follows:
“That the All Progressives Congress North East zone is in total support of all the programmes and policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, particularly the intervention programme of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), the multi billion naira Mambilla Hydro Electric power project and the fight against insurgency in the zone.
“That a caucus meeting of the APC in the zone will be held very soon to deliberate on the way forward for the APC and the entire zone. The Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan being the highest political office holder is appointed as the Chairman APC North East caucus and the party leader in the North East zone.
“That the APC North East zone frowns at and is not aware of a letter going round for the endorsement of a particular candidate for National Secretary purportedly said to be from the APC North East zone.
“That all issues pertaining to the National Secretary shall be discussed and thrashed at the state level and thereafter brought to the Zonal level for presentation to the National level as constitutionally provided”, the comminque’ read.
James Kwen, Abuja
