The first interim National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, has said zoning of offices is not in the constitution of the party.
Akande said presidential aspirants would have to contest with others from various geo-political zones.
He said this on Tuesday while addressing journalists after the meeting he held with the Elders Caucus of the APC in Osun State to resolve the crisis within the party ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial election.
While responding to questions on APC zoning Presidency to the South, he said, “My party has no constitution for zoning, the South will be ready to contend with the North, whoever that becomes our candidate will win as the presidential election.”
Akande, who is a former governor of Osun State said whoever emerged the governorship candidate of the party in Osun State would win the poll.
He said, “I expect a bigger, greater and widespread APC in Osun State. The meeting had always existed but because of COVID-19, the meeting had not been held for a very long time.
“I want to wake them up and make them know that they are elders in Osun so that they can start holding meetings. This is the beginning of elders activities to move the party forward in Osun.
“We are doing all our best to resolve every crisis, I can assure you that there will be no crisis within our party before the guber election. We came from different constituencies in Osun and we are going back to let our people know we have started to be more active than before.”
The Chairman of Elders Caucus, Chief Sola Akinwumi, while speaking on the meeting , commented on the crisis between former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and said the former governor would support the party in 2022.
“It is the congregation of elders within the state towards actualising good party politicking in Osun state and ensuring that all members of our party do register and play their roles at the 2022 governorship election.
“As far as I am concerned, former Governor Rauf Aregbesola is a democrat, he will support us, he is supposed to be here, we respect him a lot, he is part of the Elders’ caucus. Among us today we have about two or three former governors. Rauf will certainly not do any other thing than standing with progressive so nothing to worry about,” he said.
Among the elders at the meeting are; Senator Ajibola Basiru, RT. Hon Lasun Yusuf, Ex-deputy governor, Titilaoye Ponle, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Prince Felix Awofisayo, Prof Mojeed Alabi, former minister, Dr Isaac Adewole, Olosunjela of Osunjela, Oba Muhammed Babatunde among others.
