By Ralph Madugu
Following reports of a recommendation for the adoption of candidates at the forthcoming National convention of ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, some stakeholders of the party under, the umbrella of APC Northern Christians, has demanded for the nomination of a Christian Deputy National Chairman (North) and be supported for the position in the March 26 National Convention of the party.
In a communique issued by the group at the end of an expanded meeting of its executive committee and some selected stakeholders, the group said that based on the recommendation of the zoning committee which also zoned the position of Deputy National Chairman (North) to the North-East geopolitical zone, they were advocating for a Christian to occupy the position “for religious balance and all-inclusiveness in the leadership of the party.”
The communique, signed by Prof. Doknan Sheni and Senator John Danboyi, read in part “Following the reports that a consensus candidate is recommended for adoption at the forthcoming National convention of our great party, APC, based on the recommendation of the zoning committee which also zoned the position of Deputy National Chairman (North) to the North-East geopolitical zone; The executive Committee and some critical stakeholders of APC Christians in the 19 Northern States met on 7th March, 2022 and decided as follows:
“Further to the resolution contained in our communique of 13th February, 2022 calling for religious balance and all-inclusiveness in the leadership of the party, we recommend a Christian be nominated and supported for adoption as the Deputy National Chairman (North) in the forthcoming National Convention.”
Recalled that the Christians in the nineteen northern states within the All Progressives Party during a meeting of the group in Abuja in February this year called on the APC to choose a Christian from the North as National Chairman or Deputy National Chairman (North).
The group had also recommended for a Christian as president or Vice President from the North and demanded that the composition of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party should reflect the presence of Christians in order to reflect its national character.
During the February 13 meeting, the group also advocated for strict adherence to the party’s procedures of electing officers into various offices.