Governors lobbying Tinubu form groups backing him in expectation of reward
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Governors are among those angling for jobs on the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) which is yet to be constituted, as both the party and Bola Tinubu its presidential candidate are still engaging in consultations.
They are holding consultations to ensure geographical and religious balancing in compiling the full complement of the PCC, so as to douse the fury over the Muslim-Muslim presidential tag team.
But several groups formed by Governors, and serving and former Ministers are already doing the groundwork, to try catch up with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which last week announced its PCC.
Other stakeholders, including APC National Working Committee (NWC) members, have also floated supported groups for Tinubu.
The hustings officially begin on 28 September, according to the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Vanguard reports that high level internal contestations and horse trading contribute to the delay in forming the full PCC of the APC.
“In the NWC alone, the Woman Leader is coordinating several women groups, same for the Youth Leader. You have the Minister of State (FCT) Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, who also coordinates a group, a source in the APCC told Vanguard.
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Groups heads want recognition
“Then you have a former Minister, Adebayo Shittu, with his own group. When you go across the states, you have some Governors and other stakeholders setting up groups.
“At the end of the day, all these groups would be subsumed under the Campaign Council but you will need to create roles for their leaders. You need to give them such recognition,” the source added, per Vanguard.
Geographical, religious balancing
Another source disclosed the APC and Tinubu are being careful about geographical and religious balancing, hence the delay in coming up with a full list of PCC members.
Some former APC presidential aspirants who come from states where governorship primaries have not been conducted are negotiating to be given free hands to pick the party’s governorship candidates.
Others seek assurances they would be able to recommend people for key appointments if Tinubu is elected President.
Rumbles in Kogi, Enugu
In Kogi, there is a battle for supremacy between supporters of Governor Yahaya Bello and Tinubu Support Group leader James Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, according to Vanguard reporting.
Both men fought to become Governor of in 2015 after the sudden death of APC governorship candidate Abubakar Audu, who was coasting home to victory.
Faleke was Audu’s running mate, Bello was a distant first runner up in the primary that produced Audu as APC candidate.
In Enugu, one of those who ran against Tinubu for the APC presidential ticket, former Senate President Ken Nnamani is not having it easy with state Chairman and governorship candidate.
Consultations
Labour and Employment Minister of State Festus Keyamo, who is PCC Media and Public Affairs Director, said there is no cause for alarm in the delay in constituting the PCC.
“There are no issues as I understand it. The party’s leadership and the candidate are just making wide consultations and we still have a good number of days to go”, he explained.
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