The newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been empowered to make unfettered decisions for the ruling party following the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to temporarily cede its powers to the NWC.
With the development, the NWC led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu will have sole power to steady the ship of the party for 90 days, particularly the conduct of the party’s primary elections ahead of the forthcoming 2023 General elections.
The decision was reached at 11th NEC meeting of the APC which held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Wednesday.
The NEC is the highest organ of the APC. Present at the 11th meeting are; President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and other principal officers of the National Assembly; APC governors and state party chairmen.
The motion to transfer powers to the party’s NWC was moved by Lawan and seconded Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
While the Senate president in his motion positioned that the powers be transferred for “the time being”, El-Rufai positioned that the effect of the decision should only last for 90 days.
The development implies that the NWC can take all actions relating to implementing its timetable for the 2023 general elections without requiring the approval of NEC, the highest decision-making organ of the party.
Checks by The New Diplomat reveal that the NWC now have the exclusive powers to oversee the conduct of elections which will produce party candidates for elective offices, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.
Lawan, while moving the motion, said the devolution of powers is to help ‘‘conduct seamless primaries for the nomination of our party’s candidates, the National Working Committee has resolved to convene and emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee pursuant to Article 25(2), (ii) for the consideration of the party’s timetable for the conducts of its primary election and other allied matters.’’
Reeling out the important powers surrendered to NWC by NEC, Lawan said “The powers of NEC under Article 13(3)(ii)(iii) (iv)(v)(vi): respectively be vested in the NWC for the time being as follows:
“The NEC devolves it powers to NWC as enshrined in Articles 13.3 (ii) of the APC Constitution to ‘’discharge all functions of the National Convention as constituted in between Conventions.’’
“That the NEC devolves its power to NWC as enshrined in Article 13.3(iv) of the APC Constitution, to ‘’consider reports from National, State and Local Government Area/Area Councils Chapters of the Party and take such decisions as are necessary to protect, advance, and consolidate the gains and interest of the Party.
“That the NEC devolves its powers to NWC as enshrined in Article 13,3(v) of the APC Constitution, to ‘’Exercise control and take 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.
“That the NEC devolves its power to NWC as enshrined in Article 13.3(v) of the APC Constitution, 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. I so move.’’
