APC National Chair: Akume Says He Will Abide by Party’s Decision on Zoning

Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and frontline aspirant for the national chair of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator George Akume, has said that he would abide by the party’s decision on zoning of the topmost position in the party.

Akume spoke on the issue while answering questions on Arise Television Night News Live.

He said that the party had yet to formally announce the zone that would produce the national chairman, pointing out that his decision to throw his hat in the ring would be based on zoning of the position and what he called his “clearance to contest.”

Akume hinted at his qualification and capacity to successfully and meaningfully steer the ship of the APC ahead of the crucial 2023 general elections, citing his governorship of Benue for eight years where he successfully managed intricate government and party issues as well as his legislative exposure and his current assignment in the Federal Executive branch.

He said that as it were, APC, with a membership registration figure of over 46 million members, had become the single biggest party on the continent of Africa.

He stated that there was no alternative to the APC even as he said that the party was expecting to take in leaders and members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) looking for a better organised and administered party.

Akume commended the Yobe Governor and Chairman of the Interim National Convention Planning/Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, for his focused leadership in pursuing reconciliation in the party.

He said Buni was successfully deploying his experience in political party administration, especially as a former national secretary of the party before he became governor, in strengthening the party.

Responding to the question on parallel congresses in the APC, Akume said in states where there were parallel congresses, they were products of perceived clash of interests.

Explaining that there was no parallel congress in Benue State where he is a leader of the party, he said the incident only took place in a few states.

Akume pointed out that the APC was in control of 22 of the 36 states of the federation, stressing that the party had put in place procedures and mechanisms for crisis management.

He gave reasons why he left the PDP to the Action Congress on which platform he joined other persons from other parties to form the APC.

He said he left the PDP, where he was a founding leader, because the party was not being run in accordance with the provisions of its constitution and manifesto.