APC Speaks On Zoning National Chairmanship Position To North Central

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has debunked trending rumours that the party has zoned its National Chairmanship position to the North Central.

Speaking to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, the National Secretary, APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. James Akpanudoedehe said those spreading the rumour are only trying to tilt public opinion on the matter in the favour of their own region.

He revealed further that the mandate of the CECPC doesn’t cover the issue of zoning.

Akpanudoedehe made the clarification after reports emerged in some sections of the media as well as social media that APC had zoned its chairmanship seat to the North Central ahead of the expected February 2022 National Convention of the party.

“I have the mandate to report that whatever decision the CECPC takes and to the best of my knowledge the committee has not to discussed zoning,’’ he said.

“People are just flying what will favour their interest, all I know is that the caretaker committee has not discussed or reached a zoning decision,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai has blamed the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, for weakening the chances of the Igbo people to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023.

The founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum on Sunday noted that the people of the South-East must convince Nigerians beyond any reasonable doubt that they are capable of taking over in 2023.

Yakasai stated this during an interview on Channels TV on Sunday night.

The IPOB leader who is currently in the custody of the Department of States Services is facing terrorism-related charges before Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

There had been calls from socio-political groups, as well as governors in the South-East for the region to produce the next president at the end of Buhari’s administration.

The development has seen some politicians in the region dump the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress as part of permutations for the next presidential election.

Yakasai while speaking at the interview said the Igbo people must not sit back and demand that the next Presidency be zoned to them.

He added that he is a supporter of a presidential candidate from the South and would not mind if the person can come from the South-East.