Barring any last minute change, the northern caucus of the All Progressives Congress will meet in Abuja next week to begin deliberations on the choice of candidate for the 2015 presidential election.
SUNDAY PUNCH also gathered in Abuja, on Friday, that the party chieftains from across the three northern geo-political zones would use the platform to fine-tune strategies towards adopting a common front at the party’s national convention.
Some of those expected to attend the meeting include General Mohammadu Buhari, former Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party Board of Trustees, Ali Modu Shariff; ex-Zamfara State Governor, Senator Ahmed Yerima, as well as the interim Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Nasir El-Rufai.
It was learnt that those, who would attend the meeting, would be expected to press for a consensus among those expressing interest in vying for the Presidency.
SUNDAY PUNCH also gathered that Chief Audu Ogbe, would host the meeting.
It was further gathered that the party leaders would provide a template for conflict resolution in some state chapters where the issue of candidature was already generating tension among party supporters.
Some other issues to be deliberated upon include the challenges posed by the registration of the Peoples Democratic Movement, the modality for the registration exercise, the structure of the party at the state, local government and ward level as well as a renewed membership drive.
The Interim Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, could not be reached for comments as he was said to have travelled out of the country.
However, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said caucus meetings among party members were normal.
He, however, explained that the focus of the party was its upcoming nationwide registration exercise and national convention.
Mohammed said in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, “We have planned our nationwide registration exercise.
“In fact, as I am speaking to you today, the sub-committee on registration is meeting to finalise the plans.
“Don’t forget that the registration exercise has to be uniform nationwide and I can assure you that we are very much on course.”
The party is to begin grass-roots mobilisation and registration of its members across the nation in October to be closely followed by its first national convention.
Punch
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