There are strong indications that the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress will meet on Monday to discuss statements credited to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, as regards the 2019 presidential election.
Saturday PUNCH reported on Friday that besides discussing the minister’s declaration of support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition, the NWC would also deliberate on a statement credited to the ex-vice-president.
Alhassan had, in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, said she was ready to support the former vice-president against President Muhammadu Buhari if they both choose to run for the 2019 presidential election.
She also said she respected Buhari, but Atiku remained her godfather.
Alhassan, in the interview, also confirmed her statements in a leaked video, where she endorsed the former vice-president in a private meeting with him.
The former vice-president, had on the Hausa Service of Voice of America, said that the APC sidelined him after helping it to win the 2015 elections.
It was learnt that the National Working Committee would deliberate on these issues in Abuja on Monday with a view to resolving them.
This development was confirmed by the APC National Vice Chairman, North-East, Mustapha Salihu, in a telephone interview with Saturday PUNCH in Abuja on Friday.
He explained that the issue at stake was a national one, which the party’s NWC would look into.
Salihu, however, said to the best of his knowledge, there was currently no petition against the minister before the party.
He stated, “This is a national issue. I think by Monday, we will sit and we will address the matter, but I can assure you that there is no cause for alarm. Our party is intact and on ground.”
__________
Follow us on Twitter at @thesignalng
Copyright 2017 SIGNAL. Permission to use portions of this article is granted provided appropriate credits are given to www.signalng.com and other relevant sources.
