* National Chairman, North Central
* National Secretary, South West
* National Organizing Sec, North West
* National Women Leader, S/South
As Rotimi Amaechi and Bola Tinubu engage in shadow boxing over who amongst them would emerge as the presidential candidate of the APC, public attention is shifting gradually in the direction of the party where efforts, are being made to amicably zone national offices.
Infighting in the party emanating specifically from the interests of the two most powerful contenders who are positioning to snatch the APC’s presidential ticket have persistently threatened the very foundation of party unity.
APC Governors have been split down the middle as a result of the power struggle that is still going on within the rank and file of the party.
Buhari
Somehow, the recent intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari who is moving to stabilize the APC appears to have reduced tension and calmed frayed nerves, particularly amongst disagreeing governors controlled by the party.
Bola Tinubu who spoke when he visited a traditional ruler is promising a tough fight, saying he is ready to go dirty to get what he wants.
The older man has himself been at the receiving end, portrayed by his traduceers as someone who now wets his clothes in public.
It hasn’t been easy for the Minister of Transportation either. There have been several controversies driven by opponents to discredit him.
Senator Magnus Abe, a known Tinubu supporter, is claiming that Amaechi is spending millions of naira in order to smear him.
A female politician who did not want her name in print said, “These developments show how explosive the fight will be on the road to the National Convention. It will be dirty and muddy.”
A statutory delegate of the party told the Telegraph, “We are warming up for the National Convention. It indeed promises to be the mother and father of all conventions.”
“I haven’t really made up my mind on who to support in the presidential race”, he went on, “That I will do when the time comes”, the ex-national lawmaker said in course of the interview.
Amaechi
As the two stalwarts square up, the race within the APC will be between what some see as “experience and old age” and what others see as “the youthful and vibrant.”
Tinubu, Buhari
That decision which would have far reaching implications in an election in which there are many more young voters would be made by the APC and the PDP when the time comes.
For now, an authentic zoning formula of the All Progressives Congress, or what looks like it, has emerged.
There have been many false starts in terms of how offices within the party would be shared, but the list which is trending currently is coming in the wake of the decision that has zoned the National Chairman seat to the North.
Going by the way the list is shaped, it is now clear that positions held by Southern elements in the party before the dissolution of the excutive led by Adams Oshiomhole are now to be occupied by their counterparts in the North.
According to the list, offices of the National Vice Chairman (SS), National Publicity Secretary, National Women Leader, Deputy National Treasurer and Deputy National Welfare Secretary have been zoned to the South South.
Also zoned to the South South are the positions of the Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organizing Secretary, Zonal Women Leader and Zonal Special (Persons with Disability- PWD) Leader.
Under the zoning arrangement, the South-West is expected to have the position of the National Secretary, National Vice Chairman (South-West), National Youth Leader, Deputy National Auditor and Zonal Secretary.
Offices equally to be occupied by the South West include that of the Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organizing Secretary, Zonal Women Leader and Zonal Special Persons with Disability, PWD Leader
The South-East which is fighting for an Igbo President is to produce Deputy National Chairman (South), National Vice Chairman (South East), National Treasurer, National Welfare Secretary and Deputy National Organizing Secretary.
The positions of the Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organizing Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special (Persons with Disability- PWD) Leader are similarly reserved for the South East.
Offices of the Deputy National Chairman (North), National Auditor, National Vice Chairman (NE), Deputy National Financial Secretary and Deputy National Women Leader are zoned to the North East.
Also zoned to the North East are offices of the Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organizing Secretary, Zonal Women Leader and Zonal Special (Persons with Disability- PWD) Leader.
Based on the APC’s zoning formula, the North-Central would be expected to produce the National Chairman, National Vice Chairman (NC), Deputy National Secretary, Deputy National Legal Adviser and Deputy National Publicity Secretary.
Similarly, the positions of the Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organizing Secretary, Zonal Women Leader and Zonal Special (Persons with Disability- PWD) Leader
The North-West zone which has produced the incumbent president shall attract the positions of the National Vice Chairman (NW), National Legal Adviser, National Organizing Secretary, National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Youth Leader, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organizing Secretary, Zonal Women Leader and
Zonal Special (Persons with Disability – PWD) Leader
Buni
With zoning completed, leaders of the six geopolitical zones would meet among themselves to decide how positions would e ceded to states.
Meanwhile, Nigerians would be waiting to see whether gladiators within the party would allow consensus or fight all the way to elect officials from their states and zones to the national level.