Some leaders of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have said that the next chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must emerge from its bloc as one of the legacy parties that formed the ruling party.

The CPC leaders also insisted that at the March 26 APC National Convention and given “the infighting that has depleted the fortunes of the party”, only Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura possessed the capacity to address the challenges bewildering the ruling party.

The spokesperson and secretary of the defunct CPC leaders, Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla along with the National Coordinator Malam Salihu Yusuf said this in Abuja on Thursday.

The leaders further stated that the defunct CPC chieftains collectively endorsed the aspiration of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura as the next chairman of the APC.

Okono-Obla, a former presidential aide, while reeling out what he called “some of the party’s self-inflicted misfortunes” such as the loss of Bauchi, Zamfara, Rivers states, among others, in 2019 elections, stated that if something was not done, the party might lose the next general election.

“We believe if something is not done, the party may lose the next general election. The party has floundered to the extent that there is an almost total breakdown of law, order, discipline and cohesion, all ingredients that are fundamental for the success of every political party that wants to win election.

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“There is chaos in the party that has manifested glaringly in its inability to conduct a national convention for two years or more.

“The lack of leadership of these past years has seen the fortunes of the party nosedive to the extent that three months to the primaries for nomination of candidates for the 2023 general elections, there is no national working committee that will issue guidelines for the conduct of primaries.

“We, therefore, advocate for the election of a leadership that will return the party to its core values.”

“The next national chairman must come from one of the legacy parties that coalesced to form APC.

“We categorically demand that a member of one of the legacy parties that came together to form APC, be the next national chairman of APC.”

The former presidential aide further described Al-makura as “an embodiment of the finest values and leadership capabilities”, adding: “He is an administrator par excellence, accomplished businessman, legislator, party manager, mediator, conciliator, and a progressive and patriotic Nigerian.”

The Star