APC mulls emergency NEC as NWC meets

With the expiration of the 90-day transfer of power granted to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by the National Executive Committee (NEC), the party may hold an emergency NEC meeting before the commencement of the presidential campaign.

The 11th NEC meeting of the party on April 22 in Abuja resolved to transfer its powers to the party’s NWC for three months.

The 90- day transfer expired on July 22, 2022

An impeccable source in the NWC told our correspondent on Tuesday the proposal for emergency NEC meeting tops the agenda of the NWC weekly meeting of the party billed to hold on Wednesday at the party’s National Secretariat.

“With the expiration of the three- month power transfer since 22nd of July, 2022, the NWC can no longer take vital decisions on behalf of the party without approval of the NEC and in view of this constitutional reality, some NWC members are pushing for an emergency NEC meeting.

“Barring last minute change, tomorrow’s (Wednesday) weekly NWC will have to discuss the development with a view to fixing a date for an emergency NEC meeting before the commencement of the presidential campaign which is billed to start on the 28th of September, 2022,” the source hinted.

The Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led NWC obtained powers to take crucial decisions relating to emergence of candidates for the 2023 general elections without requiring the approval of NEC, the party highest decision-making organ.

The NEC’s powers were transferred to the NWC following a motion moved by Senate President Ahmed Lawan.

The motion was seconded by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

Initially, Lawan’s motion said the NEC’s powers should be taken up by the NWC for the “time being”, which could mean an indefinite period.

But Kaduna Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai made an amendment to the motion, suggesting that the NWC should exercise the NEC’s powers for a duration of 90 days. The motion was ratified.

According to the amended motion moved by Gov. El-Rufai, the powers of the NEC under Article 13(3)(ii)(iii) (iv)(v) and (vi) were vested on the NWC for 90 days.

As a result of the ceding of powers, the NWC was empowered to discharge all functions of the NEC as enshrined in Articles 13.3 (ii) of the APC Constitution.

Some of the activities carried out by the NWC within the period were consideration of reports from National, State and Local Government Area/Area Councils chapters of the party.

It also took decisions as are necessary to protect, advance, and consolidate the gains and interest of the party in line with powers vested in the NEC as enshrined in Article 13.3(iv) of the APC Constitution.

The NEC also resolved “the NWC, in the interim period, will also exercise the NEC’s powers as enshrined in Article 13,3(v) of the APC Constitution by exercising control and taking disciplinary actions on all organs, officers, and members of the party and determine appeals brought before it by any member or organ of the party.”

The NWC was vested with the powers to create, elect and appoint any committee it may deem necessary, desirable or expedient and assign to them such powers and functions as it may deem fit and proper, in line with powers given to the NEC in Article 13.3(v) of the APC Constitution.

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