The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its plan to assign national offices to all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. This decision is in line with the party's zoning formula, which aims to promote federal character principles. The party's central coordination committee has been working on the preparations for the national convention, which is scheduled to take place on March 27 and 28 in Abuja.
According to Bello Masari, the chairman of the committee, the party is committed to preventing disgruntled elements from creating confusion within the party. Masari dismissed allegations that some aspirants were denied access to party forms, describing these claims as attempts to destabilise the party.
The party's zoning structure is designed to distribute offices across different zones, ensuring that no single zone dominates the party's leadership. Masari argued that this approach promotes democracy and prevents any one group from exerting undue influence.
The committee chairman also stated that the party is ready to set the pace for a more durable democratic process in Nigeria and the African continent. He expressed confidence in the preparations for the convention, which began two months ago with ward, local government, and state congresses.
Bello Masari's assertion that the APC operates under a federal character structure is a welcome development, but it remains to be seen whether the party will uphold this principle in practice. The zoning formula is a necessary step towards promoting inclusivity and preventing the dominance of a single group. However, the party must ensure that this approach does not create new challenges for aspirants from different zones. The APC's readiness to set the pace for a more durable democratic process is commendable, but it must be backed by concrete actions and policies that benefit everyday Nigerians. The party's commitment to preventing disgruntled elements from creating confusion is crucial, but it must also address the root causes of these conflicts.
