By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Again, the chairmanship ambition of the former Governor of Borno state, Ali Modu Sheriff and some Northern political bigwigs in the All Progressives Congress (APC) was dashed on Tuesday when the Caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the ruling party finally released the official zoning arrangement for the parry’s March 26 National Convention.
In a statement released to the media by APC Director of Publicity, Malam Saliu Dambatta, the zoning arrangement which has been in the social media for sometime now was adopted at the March 8, 2022 regular meeting of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) now under the leadership of Niger state Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.
Like the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the APC has zoned the the position of National Chairman to the North-Central while the South West will produce the National Secretary.
Before now, some chairmanship aspirants such as former Governor Sheriff and a former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, were busy crisscrossing the country lobbying influential members of the party to mobilize votes for them to actualize their dreams.
But while Sheriff, one time National Chairman of the PDP hails from the North East, Yari is from the North West. So, the zoning formula effectively knocks them out of the race for the APC plum job.
This is even as the Office of the Deputy National Chairman goes to South East zone.
The full details of the Zoning/Postions are listed below:
*NORTH-CENTRAL*: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau States
1. National Chairman
2. National Vice Chairman (North Central)
3. Deputy National Secretary
4. Deputy National Legal Adviser
5. Deputy National Publicity Secretary
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
*SOUTH-SOUTH*: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States
1. National Vice Chairman (South South)
2. National Publicity Secretary
3. National Women Leader
4. Deputy National Treasurer
5. Deputy National Welfare Secretary
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
*SOUTH – WEST*: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States
1. National Secretary
2. National Vice Chairman (South West)
3. National Youth Leader
4. National Physically Challenged Leader
5. Deputy National Auditor
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
*SOUTH-EAST*: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States
1. Deputy National Chairman (South)
2. National Vice Chairman (South East)
3. National Treasurer
4. National Welfare Secretary
5. Deputy National Organising Secretary
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
*NORTH – EAST*: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States
1. Deputy National Chairman (North)
2. National Auditor
3. National Vice Chairman (North East)
4. Deputy National Financial Secretary
5. Deputy National Women Leader
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organisig Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex – Officio Member
*NORTH -WEST*: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States
1. National Vice Chairman (North West)
2. National Legal Adviser
3. National Organising Secretary
4. National Financial Secretary
5. Deputy National Youth Leader
6. Zonal Secretary
7. Zonal Youth Leader
8. Zonal Organising Secretary
9. Zonal Women Leader
10. Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD)
11. National Ex-Officio Member
Zonal Representatives on the CECPC will coordinate the process in each zone.