2019 presidency: Another imminent crisis in APC as party leaders, governors, ministers allegedly reject Amaechi as Buhari’s campaign DG

macfranc007 February 12, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nurudeen Lawal

- Some APC stakeholders are reportedly opposed to the re-appointment of Rotimi Amaechi as President Buhari’s campaign director general in the 2019 re-election bid

- The stakeholders allegedly said they need someone “more matured” to handle the campaign

- However, an aide to Amaechi said party stakeholders are already working with the minister and advised anyone not satisfied with his appointment to channel their protest to the president

There may be another imminent crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) as major stakeholders of the ruling party have allegedly kicked against the re-appointment of the minister of transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, as the director general of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Campaign Organisation in the 2019 election.

New Telegraph reports that the stakeholders include party leaders, governors elected on the party’s platform, ministers, and National Assembly members.

NAIJ.com gathered that the argument of the APC stakeholders is that the president cannot just appoint anyone as the director general of his campaign organisation without consulting the party’s hierarchy.

Recall that Amaechi served as the director-general of the Buhari Campaign Organisation in 2015.

However, the party chieftains reportedly said they want someone who is “more matured” to handle the position ahead of the 2019 polls.

They reasoned that Amaechi lacks the temperament to handle such position now that the ruling party is facing confidence crisis.

A source, who spoke with New Telegraph, said the APC chieftains also posited that Amaechi is presently not holding a strategic position to be able to influence members of the party for the President’s re-election in the forthcoming elections.

The source said: “The opinion of most of the party stakeholders is that the transportation minister was a sitting governor and chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) when he held the position of director-general of the Buhari Campaign Organisation in 2015.

“According to them, Amaechi is just a member of the cabinet now and may not wield the kind of influence he had during the last elections.

The source further said that the party leaders were also aggrieved because they believed that the appointment of Amaechi as the campaign boss was done by the trio of President Buhari, Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el- Rufai and Amaechi himself.

They said the major organs of the party, which Amaechi is going to work with should his appointment stand, were not consulted, according to a party source.

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His words: “The way Amaechi’s appointment as the campaign director-general was made, without due consultation of the various organs of the party, informs why only Buni and Izunaso are the ones working with Amaechi. Other members of the NWC are not with him.”

He also revealed that the development is responsible for the poor turn-out of the governors and ministers to meetings called by Amaechi on the Buhari’s reelection bid.

However, an aide to Amaechi told New Telegraph that no one can fault the competence of the transportation minister.

He added that such dissenting voice is not unexpected, given the divided loyalty among APC chieftains.

His words: “It is natural that some people will not be happy with Amaechi’s appointment as the director general of the Buhari Campaign Organisation. That is natural. They may have their reasons, which are likely to be personal, but definitely not over his ability to do the job.”

The aide stated that a majority of the APC governors, ministers and members of the National Assembly are working with Amaechi, and advised those who have an objection to his appointment to direct their protest to the president.

NAIJ.com previously reported that there were indications that President Buhari might have finalised plans to seek re-election during 2019 general elections as he reportedly reappointed Amaechi as the director general of his campaign.

Amaechi had allegedly been issued a letter of appointment for next year’s election and would make an official announcement on his appointment anytime soon.

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