We Want A New Generation Chairman – A New Coalition In APC Demands

*says they will not accept a leader who is above the age of 65
*says 12 Governors are backing the agenda for young leader

Some prominent members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are forming a coalition ahead of the Convention of the party slated for June 2021

TheNigeriaLawyer learnt that the aim of the coalition whose membership include governors, influential leaders, Senators and House of Representatives members, is to contribute to effecting changes in the party.

The Coalition, which tagged itself as “New Generation of Leadership in APC”, said it will not accept any aspirant or candidate who has been a governor, deputy governor, minister, permanent secretary, ambassador, director-general or CEO of any MDA to lead the APC

Specifically, the coalition said it will reject aspirants like a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari (ex-governor of Zamfara State); a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and ex-governor Clement Ebri, among others. According to them, they want to try something new

“We are forming a coalition to effect sustainable reforms in APC. We will not leave the governors alone to lead the initiative of effecting changes in our party.

“We have formed a coalition comprising like minds, including governors, influential stakeholders, senators, members of the House of Representatives and others.

“We have met twice and we have resolved to form the Movement for a New Generation of Leadership in APC. We do not want any aspirant or candidate who has been a governor, deputy governor, minister, permanent secretary, ambassador, director-general or CEO of any MDA to lead the APC.

“We are seeking a clean slate. We will reject old aspirants like a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari (ex-governor of Zamfara State); a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and ex-governor Clement Ebri, among others.

“We believe that those who have held executive positions in the past should take the back seat. We want to try something new in APC.” the source disclosed to THE NATION, not TheNigeriaLawyer

Furthermore, the Coalition said it cannot accept aspirant to the position to be someone who is above the age of 65. They said they want a new generation Chairman

The Coalition said, “Also, anyone from 65 to 70 years and above has no business managing APC. We want a new national chairman without any baggage so that we can run APC like a normal party is run anywhere in the world.

“This is the main agenda we are selling to all APC stakeholders, including governors, in order that the party may outlive all of us.

“We are asking for a new generation chairman because those who have shown interest so far are old and cannot offer anything new to the party.

“Some of these aspirants have started having problems because APC leaders from their states are against their ambition.”

The Coalition so disclosed that 12 persons have shown support to the demand of movement for young leader

They reiterated that they want a leader with good track record and will therefore not accept imposition of leadership

They called on members to come out for registration in order to press for change in the party.

“As I speak with you, we have 12 governors behind our demand for a young leader for our great party.

“We will not operate covertly. We will soon address the press to enable APC members know where we stand.

“We are consulting on a fast note and our idea is that we don’t want those who wielded executive powers in the past. We want a national chairman with an unblemished record.

“We are already encouraging members to come out for registration in order to press for change in the party.

“This coalition will not allow imposition of party leaders as being planned by some governors and a few stakeholders. We have had enough of that.

“We are happy that about 12 governors are backing this agenda. We are trying to get President Muhammadu Buhari to buy into this project for fresh hands and new thinking in APC.” the source said