Ahead of the All Progressives Congress national convention, a leading National Chairmanship aspirant of the party, Dr Sani Abdulahi Shinkafi has declared that the former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Yari who is also aspiring for the APC top seat is technically not qualified to be in the race.
He said Yari is not qualified by virtue of the fact that he is not a registered member of the party.
Shinkafi stated that there are no factions in the APC in Zamfara State, stressing that Yari cannot be a threat to his ambition to lead the party as he is not a card carrying member of the party.
Speaking in Abuja after he declared his ambition to lead the party, the Wambam Shinkafi noted that he is in the race to win and not to act as a spoiler to Yari.
According to him “I am in the race because I know that I am eminently qualified to lead the party at this period of its development and not to act as a lackey for anybody.
“I want to state categorically that Abdulazeez Yari is technically disqualified to run for the leadership of the APC having failed to register in the just concluded revalidation exercise, so having failed to register, he is not a card carrying member of the party.
Speaking on the issue of zoning of political offices by the party, Shinkafi noted that as a loyal party member, he would abide by the decision of the leadership of the party.
His words “It is with great pleasure and a sense of humility that I welcome you to this historic declaration, I am here today to formally express my interest to contest for the position of National Chairman of our great party All Progressives Congress (APC) at the National Convention slated for 26th February 2022.
“With my wide experience as the immediate past National Secretary of the All-Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the immediate past Secretary of the Board of Trustees of APGA, I believe that I have what it takes to pilot the affairs of the APC and take it to greater heights. I have been in the service for several years; I resigned honorably to join politics and engage in Business. I am a seasoned technocrat who knows what it takes to manage human and material resources.
“I would want to continue with the great job being done by the Acting National Chairman of the Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) His Excellency Malam Mai Bunu in re-organizing and making the party the greatest party in Nigeria.
“As you all may recall All Progressives Congress (APC) was registered as political party in Nigeria by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 31 2013, it was a product of historic merger of major opposition political parties which successfully defeated the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2015 general election with the overwhelming support of Nigerians electorates; as the manifesto of the party clearly states the mission of the APC is a progressive party anchored on social democracy, where the welfare and security of citizens are paramount, there is no doubt in my mind that the overwhelming victory given to our party in 2015, 2019 leading to the election of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN GCON as Vice President is a reflection of the desire of Nigeria has embrace change.
Shinkafi further said that “as I present myself to contest the position of the National chairman of our great party, it is pertinent to reflect on what constitute the APC, All Progressives Congress (APC) as a progressive party which represent the collective will of over 41 million registered members of the party in all the 36 states of the federation and federal capital territory (FCT) Abuja.
“It is my hope that if and when elected as National Chairman of the party, we will reposition and reorganize the party based on its philosophy of social democracy which basically means people oriented, membership mobilization and recruitment and mass based political organization.To be able to actualize these into concrete action that is visible and verifiable under our national leadership, we will have to do a couple of things differently in the day-to-day management of the party affairs, while inter facing with all those elected on the platform of the party at all levels” he added.
Shinkafi pointed out that “for me, it is fundamental to be able to have a membership drive of the party at the grassroots across all the electoral wards and polling units throughout the country, it is important that we must ensure that we have an authentic and verifiable certified true copy (CTC) membership registers that can be checked and verified by members; and even non members of party, the leadership of our party under our watch will maintain the credible membership register with the credible membership register it will help to eliminate abuse, corruption and manipulation in the conduct of intra party election from unit, ward, local government, state and National levels, it will also create a credible platform for conducting direct primaries which will afford every member of the party primaries at all levels rather than the indirect primaries, delegate election.
“We will ensure that members of the party are given robust sense of belonging and control. The beauty of this is that members of our party will own the party and will be ready to work to ensure the success of the party at all levels in 2023 general election and at all time, we will promote and strengthen internal democracy within the party.
He declared that “the APC must be seen to operate on the basis of its rules which is the party constitution and other laws of the federation as they relate to the formation and administration of political parties in Nigeria indeed, the constitution of the party is the basis of the contract between the party members, thus a credible membership register is the pre-condition for sustainable internal party democracy as ruling party formed on the values of social democracy, we must be seen to play politics of inclusion. We will organize activities at regular intervals across the six (6) Geo political zones where issues and challenges on politics, security, economy and agriculture will be discussed by the party leadership, elected, appointed officials and members of the party at all levels.
“We will create platform for setting National development agenda and security, economic recovery plans that will create employment, improve personal income of people of Nigeria and increase Gross domestic product (GDP) in Nigeria.
“The party should therefore serve as a verifiable platform to keep executive and legislature arms of government to remain faithful and focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the electorates that elected them in offices.
We will maintain the supremacy of the party at all levels and wage war against imposition of unpopular candidates, during the general election, put an end to politics of Godfatherism and impunity in the governance of the party at all levels of our leaderships, the decision of the party should always be the final to avoid dictatorship and internal wrangling”.
He vowed to reposition the party for a united and indivisible Nigeria adding “we will build the capacity of the leaders and members of the party to improve administration, organizational structure of the party, financial management, accountability, transparency and ensure proper management of the party throughout our tenure if elected at the forthcoming National convention.
“We will promote symbiotic relationships between the three arms of government as provided in the separation of power in the Presidential system of government in Nigeria (executive legislature and judiciary), but as we know the judiciary is independent because they are not subjected to an election constitutionally. The party will in all its actions and words respect the principles of separation of power.
“The party under my leadership if elected whenever there is conflict between the parliament and executives the party must take proactive measures to reconcile the two arms to work in friendly manner both must respect the principle of separation of power; we shall put in place internal mechanism for conflict management to avoid party faction and internal crisis within the ruling party that is what made it to lose elections in Bauchi, Adamawa, Rivers, Sokoto, Imo, Oyo, Edo and Zamfara state respectively, apart from legislature seats, both at the states and National assembly that were dashed away as a result of poor handling of the party in primaries in 2019 general elections, nomination exercises.
He said that “We will intervene in the lingering crisis between the governors and members of the national assembly in their respective states, conflict of interest or just being victims of rumor mongering when I am given the privilege to the lead by being elected at the national convention, we will proactively engage all the parties involved in such conflict with a view to helping them find common ground on basis of justice, equity, transparent, faithful and loyal to the members of the party.
“I belong to all members of our great party, leaders of the party without discrimination or bias, I am praying to Almighty Allah (SWT) to give me good health, wisdom, to discharge my duty with the fear of Allah (SWT).We shall do everything immensely possible to protect and preserve the interest of our members of the party and all Nigerians who voted for APC in 2015, 2019 general election in to power.
He noted ”I strongly believe that with my determination, commitment and conviction to work with the President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) GCON, Governors, State House Assembly Members and the Members of National Assembly, we will restore public confidence and support for our party and Government at all levels.
“All progressives congress (APC) needs a national chairman that will lead the party to the needs, aspirations and yearning of women and young talented Nigerians” Shinkafi added.
