The party is expected to establish a convention planning committee during its July 24 National Executive Committee meeting.
According to the Punch, the committee will oversee preparations for the party’s National Elective Convention scheduled for December, where new members of the NWC are to be elected.
Sources disclosed to the aforementioned publication that several NWC members have reportedly begun lobbying to limit the shake-up to just the replacement of the acting national chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori.
However, a source stated that Dalori is expected to remain in office until December, when party delegates elect new NWC members.
The source stated, “Most of the critical stakeholders and even the Presidency are not interested in nominating a new national chairman during the NEC meeting slated for July. What many have supported so far is an elective convention.
“So, at the NEC, the party may constitute a convention planning committee. I said this because the governors and other party leaders want a total change of the current NWC.
“There may be a national elective convention in December. Nobody is planning to replace Dalori in July, to the best of my knowledge. Dalori will lead the party to a convention where new leaders of the party will emerge.”
Another source also confirmed that the party was preparing for a December convention to elect new NWC members to reflect the interests of certain governors and recent entrants into the ruling party.
The source said, “The ongoing conversation among party leaders is centred on the December convention. They are concerned about how new NWC members will emerge and lead the party into the 2027 elections.
“It’s not just about replacing Ganduje; the December convention is intended to produce new party leaders.
“This is seen as crucial to accommodate those who have recently joined the party and those expected to join before then, especially governors who are becoming influential in the APC’s national leadership.
“As we speak, some NWC members are already lobbying. They want to retain their positions and are trying to influence other NEC members to simply announce Ganduje’s replacement. But the broader plan is to hold a December convention to elect a new set of party leaders.”
He added, “In the coming days, the governors will brief the President. If he gives his approval, the NEC meeting in July will then constitute the necessary committees.”
However, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, told newsmen in an interview that no such plan was in place.
He said the NEC meeting scheduled for July 24 would decide whether a convention would be held or not.
He stated, “There’s nothing like that for now. Everything about whether to have an elective convention by December is for the NEC to decide. So, nobody can preempt what NEC will bring or agree to.
