2023: APC reaches consensus on zoning formula, zones chairmanship to North
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reached consensus on a zoning formula that will see to the swapping of offices held between the north and south ahead of the 2023 elections.
Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), announced this while briefing correspondents after President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting with 19 governors elected under the APC at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
El-Rufai said the party has agreed to swap the current vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC) between the Northern and Southern parts of the country ahead of March 26 national convention.
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By implication, the chairmanship position, which has been held by former Governors John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State from the South will now go to the North.
El-Rufai said, “We have agreed on a zoning formula for all the six geopolitical zones and essentially, we swapped. Northern zones will take positions that Southern zones had in the last eight years and vice versa.
“So, it’s a very simple, equitable and fair formula. We will now go back and consult at the zonal level, and look at the positions that are available and the process of the convention preparation will start in earnest. So by the grace of God on the 26th of March, we will have done a national convention.”
Kebbi Governor, Atiku Bagudu also spoke to the media on the latest development saying, “we are at the Presidential Villa this afternoon to meet with Mr President to discuss party issues and the incoming convention. But before then, we collectively expressed our delight and congratulated Mr President on the 3.4% GDP growth that was recorded for 2021, which surpassed all estimates both domestic and international.
“We also noted and thank him for the major transformational projects that are taking place in all the six geo-political zones of the country. These are infrastructure projects and inclusiveness programmes.”
The brief meeting that took place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and 19 governors, including those of Yobe, Kano, Kogi, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Kwara, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Lagos, Imo, Ogun, Borno, Niger, Gombe, Osun, Kebbi, Plateau, as well as Deputy Governor of Anambra State who left the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the APC last year.
