Governors finally agree with Buhari on tenure extension for Oyegun, others

State governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resolved to back President Muhammadu Buhari on his decision to overrule the decision of the partys National Executive Committee (NEC)

During the party's NEC meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, President Buhari said the committee's February decision to extend the tenure of the NWC and executive members by a year is unconstitutional.

He advised the party to conduct fresh elections according to its constitutional provisions and urged members to contribute to its success.

The president's position had gotten significant objection from party bigwigs who were bent on avoiding internal crisis in the party heading into next year's election.

A previous meeting between the president and the governors had reportedly ended in a deadlock as an agreement could not be reached on Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

However, after a follow up meeting with the president on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, Zamfara State governor, Abdulazeez Yari, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha and a few others told State House correspondents that they're finally in agreement with the president.

Governor Yari revealed that all 24 governors under the APC had met after Tuesday's meeting and agreed that elections of party officials should hold at all party levels.

He said, "We consulted and all the 24 governors of the APC are on the same page with Mr. President that we are going to respect our party's constitution, and respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"Therefore, we collectively agreed that we will have congresses at all levels - Local - State and National.

"The committee set up by the National Secretariat of our party headed by governor of Plateau State, is presenting its report later today (Wednesday).

"The governors are also meeting with the working committee today so that we come up with convention committee names as well as timetable of the election.

"So, there is no deadlock in our meeting, we have progressed and very soon you will have the names of the convention committee members as well as the timetable."

No crisis in APC - Okorocha

Governor Okorocha said the development should put an end to speculations that there is a crisis within the party due to its inability to agree on whether to elect new officials or extend the tenure of the current ones which will end in June 2018.

He said, "The issue was that some people who believe that we did not have enough time to organise a party congress and run election. Some people felt that it was a good idea but the most important thing is that, if we do that, we will be contravening both our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the major issue that we have that they call crisis. We do not have virus.

"This morning, we met with Mr. President to fine-tune issues, one regarding the congress and we have resolved that the congresses at all levels and the Chairman of the elongation committee, is also fine-tuning the arrangement in the same line. To this effect, the convention committee will be set out, it will be announced."

As disclosed by Governor Yari, Governor Simon Lalong confirmed that he would be submitting the report of the technical committee he heads to the party leadership later on Wednesday.

Other governors that met with the president at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday are Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun.