At its meeting on Wednesday, the National Executive Committee, (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) transferred power to the National Working Committee (NWC).
The Abdulahi Adamu-led NWC will take charge for the next 90 days to oversee activities of the party including the May 30 and 31 presidential primaries.
In line with this new development, the NWC will henceforth take decisions that might require the intervention of the NEC meeting.
This development will give respite to some of the presidential aspirants who are entertaining the fear that the leadership of the party, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari might force a consensus candidate on them, The Trumpet gathered.
At the meeting held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja where President Muhammadu Buhari, presided, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Ahmed Lawal, his deputy, Ovie Omo Agege Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila in attendance.
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The meeting also had in attendance all NEC members, principal staff of the party and National Assembly, State Governors and states party chairmen.
The meeting fixed the ost of expression of interest and nomination forms for presidential aspirants in the 2023 Presidential election at N100 million and N50 million for governorship aspirants.
National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka at the end of the meeting said NEC approved May 30 and 31 for its Presidential Primaries and May, 18 for governorship while sales of forms commence this Saturday, ending by May 6, 2022.
“For the State House of Assembly, the expression of interest form has been set for N500,000 while the nomination form has been set for N1.5m. That brings it to a total of N2m, while the House of Representatives has a fee of N1m for the expression of interest form and N9m for the nomination bringing it to a total of N10m.
“For the Senate, we have the expression of interest form, set at N3m while the nomination form has been put at N17m bringing it to a total of 20m for the Senate.
“For governorship, we have the expression of interest form set at N10 million with the nomination form set at N40m bringing it to a total of N50m for the governorship while the presidential form has been set for, expression of interest N30m, and the nomination form set at N70m bringing it to a total of N100m.
“Please, let’s note that female aspirants and persons with disability will purchase our expression of interest forms for all the positions that they may be interested in while the nomination forms will be free without cost on them.
“Our youth also got some very special consideration out of this meeting. They are considered persons between the ages of 25 to 40. To purchase the expression of interest forms but with a discount of 50 per cent. On the nomination forms now, as usual, all of the payments are to be made to banks that will be designated by the party and published in a very short while from now.”
On the schedule of party activities in respect of party primaries towards the 2023 election which he indicated will be the indirect mode, the National Publicity Secretary said:
“First on that schedule is the notice of election that will be issued to the state chapters of our party. That activity will be carried out on the 22nd of April 2022 which will be followed by sale of forms at the APC national secretariat to commence on Saturday, 23rd April to Friday, 6th May, 2022. The last day for the submission of completed forms and accompanying documents will be Tuesday, the 10th of May 2022.
“Screening of aspirants will be carried out for the State House of Assembly and the governorship aspirants will be conducted on Thursday, the 12th of May 2022. Screening for aspirants to the House of Representatives and the Senate will be carried out on Friday, the 10th of May 2022. And for the presidential aspirants, that will come on Saturday 14th of May 2022.
“Publication of screening results will be done for the state assemblies and the governorship on Friday, 13th May 2022. The House of Representatives and the Senate will be on Saturday 14th of May 2022. For the Presidential aspirants, the publication of screening results will be on Sunday 15th of May 2022.”
He stated that screening appeals for the State Assembly and governorship will take place on Saturday 14th May 2022. The House of Representatives and the Senate will hold on Tuesday, the 17th of May 2022. And for the presidential aspirants is scheduled to hold on Monday, the 23rd of May 2022.
He also indicated that the primary election for Governorship elections will hold on Wednesday, 18th May 2022 and State Houses of Assembly will hold on Friday 28th May 2022 while House of Representatives primary election will hold on Sunday 22nd of May 2022.
“The Senate has been scheduled to hold on Tuesday 24th May 2022. Now, our special convention for presidential primaries is bid to hold between Monday 30th of May to Wednesday, 1st of June 2022.”
Meanwhile e APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu cautioned governors of the party not to work at variance with the interest of the party.
He declared that state governors are leaders of the party in their states and the APC constitution does make provision for dual leadership in the states.
Adamu, also a former governor said the erstwhile state chief executives are leaders in their own rights and asked incumbent governors to accord them all the necessary respect.
