Ahead of today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a forum of Non-National Working Committee, but NEC members have withdrawn their initial support for the controversial tenure elongation.
The Forum had earlier expressed support for the current NWC led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to be given another 12-month tenure extension.
However, at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, the spokesman of the Forum, Jock Alamba, expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on tenure extension.
“We share Mr. President’s unalloyed commitment to the rule of, law and fi ne tenets of internal democracy; firm beacons he is laying to deepen our fledgling democracy.
He has in different fora, as a convert democrat demonstrated his commitment to democracy as exemplified in the Gubernatorial and Senatorial elections which opposition political parties won in states like Anambra and the Rivers under his watch.
A stark difference from mid-term and other election results under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 16 years of do-or-die politics.
“President Buhari’s concern for due process is legendary, that we could not underrate his concern that since the law is an ass, our most likely 2019 presidential and other electoral victories should not be toyed or placed in jeopardy with legal niceties or put in harm’s way of fortune hunters.
“Our position is reaffirmed after a careful survey, which shows that 99 per cent of the entire membership and Governors of our great Party are in support of Mr.
President’s second term bid.
It is a common position that for the overall interest of our great Country that Mr.
President should complete the critical infrastructural foundations he is laying.
“This means that with all hands on deck, we can avoid the risk of rancorous and conflict ridden intraparty elections which made majority of our leaders to clamour for one year elongation of tenure in the eve of February 27, 2018, National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
” The Forum, however, called on all APC members and supporters nationwide to disregard “a news headline from one of our national newspapers to the effect that ‘governors move to stop plot to use chairmen against Buhari.
’ “There is no such a plot, and no chairman is against Buhari; we are all behind Buhari.
Accordingly, our Forum has the fervent believe that APC like in the December 10, 2014 Presidential primary and other primary elections will work together as a family and disappoint naysayers who are hoping for Armageddon.”
