As the tussle for the zoning of the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly gathers momentum, report emanating from the camp of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, indicates he may return to the country on Monday (today) to take charge of proceedings and give direction.
This is even as the National Working Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress prepares to meet with the former governor of Lagos to take a position to avert a repeat of the 2015 situation that produced Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker, respectively.
Tinubu had on March 21 travelled out of the country to spend some time in Paris and London.
According to a statement by Tunde Rahman for the Office of the President-elect, the trip was to enable Tinubu to rest and plan his transition programme ahead of his inauguration on May 29.
The Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and a member of the House of Representatives, James Faleke, in a tweet on Sunday, noted that Tinubu alongside his wife, Senator Remi Tinubu, would land “by 2pm at the presidential wing of the International Airport.”
“My dear brothers and sisters of this unique family, I wish to inform and request of us all that anyone in Abuja and Nasarawa is invited to join in receiving our people’s President-elect and First Lady tomorrow by 2pm at the Presidential wing of the International Airport.
“Departure Time:2pm; departure venue: The Campaign Office; Accreditation time: 12pm. Buses will be provided. Only Accredited persons will be allowed at the airport for security reasons,” Faleke’s tweet read.
Also, another party chieftain and a high-ranking member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, who craved anonymity, disclosed that Tinubu’s private jet will be hitting the tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday (today).
He said, “The report is correct. Asiwaju will be arriving tomorrow (Monday) preparation for the May 29 inauguration. He will also be meeting with the party soon to discuss the leadership of the National Assembly.”
The APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, also confirmed that the NWC meeting may take place this week.
He, however, couldn’t confirm whether the President-elect would be in attendance.
He stated, “We are expecting the President-elect to arrive hopefully from tomorrow (Monday). I may not be sure of the exact date, but I think the NWC meeting will also take place this week after everybody must have resumed from the holiday break and their trip from Umrah.”
Earlier on Sunday, the APC announced the dissolution of its Presidential Campaign Council, which was inaugurated in October to campaign for Tinubu’s victory.
The dissolution was contained in a statement that was jointly signed by the PCC Director General, Governor Simon Lalong, and the secretary of the council, Faleke.
Lalong also applauded the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for his unflinching support for the APC presidential candidate throughout the electioneering campaign.
Lalong said, “Since the campaign council began in September 2022, we have witnessed an unprecedented, relentless, and engaging mobilisation of our members nationwide and in the diaspora towards securing the majority popular votes for the Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket.
“The journey has been a worthy one with our hard-won victory. The credit goes to all our members, particularly, the leaders and members of the various campaign directorates.
“We would like to express our deepest appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), for his unwavering support and leadership throughout the campaign. We could not have achieved this level of success without his single-mindedness, commitment, and forthrightness.
“However, we have concluded that it is in the best interest of the campaign and its stakeholders for us to dissolve our council with immediate effect. This has become necessary to retune us towards the May 29, 2023, inauguration of the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The process of transitioning into a new era of a Renewed Hope is underway and all our energies and activities must reflect the principles underlying this process.
“We hope that you will all continue to stay involved in Nigeria’s political process and to advocate issues that you believe in. Our democracy is stronger when we all participate in the political process with patriotism.We would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your support, dedication, and hard work,” the statement said in part.
