El-Rufai heads APC restructuring c’ttee

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a committee led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State to bring to the fore its concept on restructuring.

Members of the committee included the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola; Kano, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Plateau, Simon Lalong; Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; a former governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor; the APC National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso; the APC National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, Hajiya Fatima Balla and Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, who will serve as Secretary.

Malam Bolaji Abdullahi and the governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, briefed journalists yesterday on the outcome of the meeting between the National Working Committee (NWC) and the governors, held at the party national secretariat, in Abuja.

Abdullahi said the committee on restructuring was not meant to set up modalities on the concept but to articulate what the party meant by the terminology.

“You see, I have repeatedly mentioned it to a couple of our colleagues that when we talk about setting up a committee on restructuring, what we are talking about is a committee that will articulate what the APC means by restructuring.

“We have realized that over a couple of days or weeks, when people use the word restructuring, we are no longer sure they are talking the same thing. People have gone out saying the APC promised restructuring. So, we need to sit down as a party to also develop a shared understanding of what we mean by restructuring in our manifesto. So, this committee that is set up, that will be chaired by Governor of Kaduna State, is mainly to define what the APC exactly means by restructuring so that every member will know exactly what we mean,” he said.

The APC spokesman, who said the meeting had agreed to include principal officers of National Assembly henceforth, stated that the process that would lead to its midterm National Convention would start on Saturday, July 29 with delegates’ congress.

Meanwhile, Governor Yari said the ruling APC will not stifle opposition in the polity.

Asked to comment on the position of the APC on the Supreme Court ruling that recognized Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP, Yari said, “As governors, we welcome the idea of democracy. The APC is not planning in any way to put this country as a oneparty system; we are not. We enjoy the opposition when we were in opposition. “From opposition, we become the ruling party. So, the judgement given by the Supreme Court on the PDP will not shake the APC in any way. We are happy for them,” he said.