… Amaechi’s South South supporters plot to snatch position of National Secretary
APC Governors share a joke with PMB
As the National Convention of the APC billed for the end of the month draws near, a decision to zone the position of the party’s National Chairman to the North Central zone has been taken.
This follows an understanding reached by APC Governors on Wednesday on how to zone the chairmanship seat.
The decision of the governors which is giving APC supporters something to cheer about came in the wake of a last minute understanding reached after Tuesday’s conversation on the way forward collapsed.
The PDP had earlier zoned the position of the National Chairman to the North Central, a situation which paved the way for the election of Iyorchia Ayu.
Given the decision reached by the APC Governors, the central zone otherwise known as the Middle Belt has become the major destination for the selection of national Chairmen of the PDP and the APC.
The governors reportedly zoned the party’s position for the deputy national chairman and national secretary to the South.
There are indications that leaders of the South, including state governors would meet later to micro-zone the deputy national chairman and national secretary positions.
Within the APC, candidates for the two positions are likely to come from the South East and South South zones respectively.
Akume may emerge APC’s Chairman at the centre.
While the Governors are favoring George Akume, a former governor as the consensus candidate for the position of the National Chairman, the Acting National Secretary, Senator Akpanudoedehe from the South South is being tipped as National Secretary.
There are signs that pro-Amaechi groups within the APC would be lobbying for Akpanudoedehe to emerge as party secretary.
Akpanudoedehe, attracting serious support from the South South.
A source close to Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation says “the Minister will obviously be pushing for Akpanudoedehe.
“The Acting Secretary has done well and most in the South – South geopolitical zone agree it would right to return such a hard worker to office as substantive secretary.”
Contacted, a pro – Abe supporter noted, “We will wait to see how things play out, going forward. We are not political bystanders.
“Nobody owns this party, not in the South South, not anywhere. We are co – founders and we have contributed to building this party. 
Amaechi.. Will Abe ever agree with him?
“We are making sure as major stakeholders that our voices are heard; and our interest in the whole thing is respected now that we are talking consensus.”
The APC is hoping to reduce open air contests as much as possible.
The aim, we have learnt is to ensure that differences which may lead to an implosion of the party are averted through broad based consensus.
Observers believe that the breakthrough recorded by APC leaders in zoning the party chairmanship to the North apparently clears the path for the presidency to be zoned to the South.
In the meantime, the cat and mouse game being played by the APC and the PDP continues as both sides spy on one another.