2023: APC To Decide On Presidency Zoning in 2021.
The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has just fixed June 2021 to decide on which zone of the country will produce its presidential candidate for 2023.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the APC on Tuesday has extended the tenure of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led 13-member APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) by six months.
Sources has revealed to Daily Trust that the tenure of the CECPC was extended to afford the party opportunity to resolve contentious issues zoning inclusive.
“This is partly why President Muhammadu Buhari in his remarks at the NEC meeting harped on healing wounds, mending fences and respecting the free-merger agreement reached by those behind the formation of the APC,” a source said.
“While there are sources that believe APC leaders from the North can use the numerical strength of the region to hold on to power, those in the South feel it would amount to a betrayal of trust if the North did not reciprocate what was done to them in 2015.
“The extension of time for the Buni-led committee is honestly beyond membership registration…The major issue is the sharing formula without causing an unnecessary distraction.
“And even if the North agrees to hands-off, we have to agree on which part of the South should have the presidential candidate.
“There are those who believe it should go to the South West.
“There are those who believe it should go to the South East, and some people are saying the South-South should be given a chance, but it all depends on the disposition of the Villa,” the source said.
The source further said, if the North gets the slot of the national chairman of the APC during the national convention of the party, the South will produce the presidential candidate and vice versa.
