The All Progressives Congress National Working Committee has decided to suspend the inauguration of Standing Committees on Finance, Publicity, Intergovernmental, Conflict and Resolutions in order to avoid embarrassment by its chieftains and business moguls who have taken the position not to serve on its Standing Committees.
Barrister Felix Morka, the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, announced the decision of the APC NWC to postpone the inauguration of the Committees.
Morka stated that the decision was made at the conclusion of the NWC meeting on Monday. The Committees were supposed to be inaugurated on Wednesday.
Checks found that BUA Group Chairman Abdulsamad Ishak Rabiu had denied membership on the Finance Committee over the weekend.
According to a BUA Group statement, the ruling party did not communicate with its chairman before adding his name on the list.
The statement read in part:
” It is important to note that our Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu and BUA Group have consistently adopted an apolitical stance over the years.
This approach is integral to the nature of our business and aligns with Mr. Rabiu’s focus on fostering economic growth through BUA Group’s initiatives and philanthropic efforts through ASR Africa.
“With respect to this, we wish to inform the publishers, our partners, stakeholders, and the general public that Mr. Rabiu has decided to graciously decline the nomination/appointment. This decision is made in light of the fact that he was not previously consulted regarding his inclusion in the list and his inability to commit time due to his demanding schedule,” it said.
The company maintained that “Alhaji Rabiu would not like to get any political affiliations or roles.”
Multiple sources within the party revealed that Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji may have declined membership of the Finance Committee.
The APC national leadership also listed Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Adeola and Chairman, Finance Committee in the House of Representatives, James Faleke as members of the Finance Committee, amongst others.
Asked if the decision to stop the inauguration was to preempt the boycott that could trail the event, Morka said it has nothing to do with the Chairman of BUA Group and others who might have taken the position to shun the appointment from the party.
He said:
“There is no need for that discussion. The decision was taken for a number of reasons. The announcement of postponement, was just to convey to those appointed not to bother to travel to Abuja.”
Reacting to the attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) residence in Kogi, the APC called on law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.