3 Important things President told top APC members at NEC

It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking reelection in 2019. But that was not all the President told top members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

As planned, the APC NEC members met at the party secretariat in Abuja on Monday, April 9, 2018, to receive the report of the committee on the tenure elongation for members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

At the meeting, President Buhari said three important things.

1. Unity key to APC winning in 2019

President Buhari harped on the need for the APC to remain a strong united party if it wants to succeed in at the 2019 general elections.

He said the report by the committee would bring an end to the court cases on the matter.

“Considering that politics is a game of numbers, we must not be a house divided against itself and must try to appreciate and accommodate our differences as far as the law permits.

“Having seen the report, my position is to ensure that the party tows the part of unity, legality, cohesion and not that of division. Therefore, I am stressing that we strengthen our internal democracy by organizing party congresses and convention where election of national executive committee members will be held.

This will automatically end the cases filed by members seeking orders of court compiling the party to hold its congresses,” he added.

2. APC NWC members may re-contest

President Buhari noted that serving NWC members may get waivers to contest for positions during the election which will take place at party’s national convention.

“I also believe that the current executives should be free to run for elective position in the party if they so wish and permitted by our party constitution.

“However, considering the provision of Article 30 Section 1 and Subsection 3 of our party constitution which requires any serving officer desirous seeking re-election to resign from office 30 days before the election, I’m not sure of the practicality of the present servings officers’ ability to meet this condition.

“Accordingly, the party may consider granting waivers to party executives at all levels so that they are not disenfranchised in participating in the elections provided this does not violate our rights or our rules.

“Necessary waivers should also be extended to executives at the ward level whose tenures May have elapsed and indeed to anyone knocking on our doors from other parties,” the President added.

Buhari seeking reelection in 2019

President Buhari also declared his intention to seek reelection during the 2019 presidential polls.

This announcement has, however, been generating mixed reactions from Nigerians.