APC ‘gears up for 2019’, convenes second NEC meeting in two years

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled its caucus meeting for Monday, and its national executive council meeting for Tuesday.

The NEC meeting has held once since the ruling party took over power in 2015.

The only NEC meeting of the party held in the midst of the crisis which broke out as a result of the emergence of the leadership of the 8th assembly.

Senate President Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, had emerged against the wish of the leadership of the party.

Among key party members who stayed away from that meeting were Bisi Akande, former interim chairman of the party, and Bola Tinubu, APC national leader and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

President Muhammadu Buhari hosted key party members at the presidential villa in Abuja on Monday.

He also held a private meeting with Tinubu.

Addressing state house correspondents on Monday evening, Tinubu said he had a fruitful meeting with Buhari.

Asked to comment on the groups endorsing Buhari for a second term, he simply said: “Don’t discuss that one with me.”

Although Buhari has not declared interest in 2019 general election, some of his loyalists have spoken. On Friday, Ahmad Lawan, senate majority leader, said Buhari has no option but to seek reelection.

As it is now, the ruling party has to put its house in order before the next election.

On Friday, Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of Nigeria customs service, said some of those who worked hard for Buhari’s emergence had not been compensated.

Ali alleged that 50 percent of those in the current administration are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“When you come in, you shake off everybody and bring in your own. That is what democracy is all about,” he had said.

“Today, we have members of PDP calling the shots. That is what we will begin to fight for, we will fight for our right position, our vision and our mission for this government.

“I will, therefore, ask my colleagues of the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) to go back to the study room. This is a commission, but it is also the beginning of the fight for good governance. We must get back to the trenches, draw our own battle plan and battle line.

“I enjoin you that the same commitment we had in 2015, I employ you to bear with us and commit yourself to a better future for Nigeria. We will be calling on you from now on and we will be working day and night.”

Abubakar had earlier said he had been abandoned despite investing resources in the party.