By Daniel Edu

The leadership under Abdullahi Ganduje within the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee (APC-NWC) has initiated steps to secure the approval of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to formalize the appointment of new officials for the NWC.

Reports indicate that the party’s upper echelons have received a compilation of nominations from various state party branches in alignment with the mandate granted to the NWC during the most recent NEC gathering convened at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja the previous week.

Naija News highlights that Saliu Lukman, the APC Vice Chairman for the Northwest region, and Ahmad El-Marzup, the Legal Adviser, have both tendered their resignations. Additionally, Senator Abubakar Kyari and Dr. Beta Edu, both incumbent NWC members, have been put forth as ministerial candidates by President Bola Tinubu, while one member has sadly passed away.

The prospective officials, whose confirmation hinges on the approval of the National Executive Committee (NEC), encompass individuals such as Dr. Stella Odey-Ekpo, the former Commissioner for Local Government in Cross River State (proposed Women Leader); Ali Dalori, the APC Chairman for Borno State (Deputy National Chairman, North); Prof. Abdulkarim Kana, former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Nasarawa State (Legal Adviser); Martins Azubuike, former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly (Welfare Officer); and Yahaya Ismail, formerly the Special Adviser on Water Resources to the Governor of Kogi State (Deputy National Publicity Secretary).

This decision to populate these positions aligns with the guidelines stipulated by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

A credible source within the party conveyed to The PUNCH, “While the official replacement for Lukman has yet to be formally communicated, it’s been conveyed to us that Commodore Emmanual Jekada (retd.), the APC Chairman in Kaduna, is the favored choice to assume the role of the forthcoming National Vice Chairman for the North-West region.”

“Although these names are under consideration, they remain subject to change. Presently, the NWC has not convened to discuss or submit these names collectively to the NEC,” the source emphasized, dismissing any potential for a mini-convention. Instead, the party is poised to initiate the inauguration of the new officials once an endorsement is secured from the NEC.