By Okey Ndiribe,Asst. Pol. Editor

The on-going intrigues and manoeuvres within the leadership of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) may have resulted in the second postponement of the party’s national convention which was supposed to hold  last Friday. The initial date for the convention was July 17, but it had to be shifted due to what the party officially called “unforseen circumstances”.

Although, the second postponement  of the  convention was said to have been ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it is believed in some quarters that it may be linked to the intense rivalry between groups within the party over the election of new members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

The question that has arisen is whether  it is possible  that the leadership of the party was not aware of the provisions of the Electoral Act which provides that the commission be informed at least 21days in advance before a party could hold its national convention? Observers of happenings within the party believe that somebody within the party leadership deliberately postponed the convention for the second time in order to have enough time to perfect a certain strategy.

It was learnt that another factor that may have led to the present situation within the party was the sour relationship between  some of the party’s governors and members of its NWC. Indeed,  the National Convention Committee ( NCC) was said to have been    pressurised by  several stakeholders of the party who strongly felt that Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke’s leadership should not be given any opportunity to play any major role again until the expiration of its tenure.

 While giving reasons for the  first postponement of the party’s convention, the Chairman of NCC Gov. Ibrahim Geidam had explained  that “the Committee could not use the earlier time-table it inherited from the leadership of the party because a week had already been lost before the Committee commenced work. He further stated that  the Committee made slight changes in  dates.  Already the ward Congresses of the party were  held  on 19th June;  local government Congresses on 26th June, while the State Congresses took  place on 3rd July.

Indeed, there are indications that the latest postponement of the party’s convention may not be unconnected with the alleged zoning of the party’s chairmanship position to the South-East. It was gathered that two of the front-runners for the party’s top job who hail from the zone are close to former Military President Ibrahim Babangida who is rumoured to be planning to defect to ANPP.

 There are also speculations  that the former military ruler was sponsoring both men for the purpose of ensuring that the party’s presidential ticket is  reserved for him in case he loses out in his bid to clinch that of  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of which  he is presently a member.

In fact, it is strongly believed if  either  George Moghalu or Emma Eneukwu who are believed to be close to the former military president, emerge as the next  Chairman of the party, the former military ruler’s  entry into the party to grab its presidential ticket  would be greatly enhanced.   Babangida was believed to have resorted to this plan B because  as things stand presently he remained  unsure of securing the ticket of the PDP given the wide-spread opposition to his candidacy and increasing  agitation for President Goodluck Jonathan to run for next year’s general elections.  Indeed, Babangida himself had this fear when he said  several months ago that apart from the PDP,  there were other parties available for him to join and realize his 2011 presidential ambition. 

It was learnt that apart from ensuring that their loyalist emerges as the new Chairman of ANPP,  the pro-IBB group has  deployed another strategy for the purpose of lobbying  the national caucus of the party, to amend the party’s constitution to pave way for a new entrant to aspire to any position in the party . It was learnt that the specific section to be amended in the party’s constitution   is that concerning  the qualification of candidates contesting party offices which stipulates that a contestant for a party office must have been a member of the party for 12 months consecutively. It was gathered that the deal was to ensure the emergence of a particular candidate among the six contesting the office of the National Chairman, who would then facilitate the entry of Gen. Babangida into the party to contest the Presidency.

It was gathered that the opposition to this move was being spearheaded by one of the governors from the party in the North.

 However, the out-going National Chairman of the Party, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, reportedly dismissed the rumour and said  that it  would never materialise and that the party constitution would be strictly adhered to at the National Convention.

He also dismissed claims that Gen. Babangida had approached  the party leadership to use its  platform for  his plan B.

 Said he: “Much as we are not driving away members or those intending to join us, we will apply the rules as contained in the party constitution. We have no plan to alter the constitution because of anyone.  Whoever can interpret the party constitution very well will know if he is qualified to contest or not. But then the issue of party constitution amendment is not on the card now except party members decide otherwise.”

A source said the rumour that  Gen. Babangida plans to  use the ANPP to actualise his presidential  ambition  has for sometime now  been a thorny issue among the party’s governors and that the caucus meeting was expected to trash out all the issues that had been agitating the minds of party faithful for a smooth, free and fair convention.

A Lagos State governorship aspirant and ANPP stalwart, Yomi Tokoya, had reportedly alleged that plans had  been  perfected to deceive  the national caucus to agree to an amendment of the party constitution just because of Gen. Babangida’s Presidential ambition. He vowed that he would do all within his power to ensure the former Head of State never had his way.

On his own part, the National Vice Chairman of the party for the North, Dr. Yussuf Musa argued that nobody would stop anyone from joining the party but certainly nothing will be done to confer an undue advantage on anyone over committed party members.

Musa, who is also eyeing the position  of  National Chairman denied that the National leadership was into any alliance with  General Babangida. However he agreed,  that such a political agenda may  not be entirely  ruled out in politicking.