APC Abolishes Bot, Faces Cash Crisis

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to abolish Board of Trustees (BOT) from its leadership structure, Nigerian Tribune has been unofficially told.
A senior official of the party said in its stead, there would be an ad hoc conflict resolution team, that would move from state to state, to settle party disputes.
The quest for the party’s BoT chairmanship had seen a North/South dichotomy and struggle between two main power blocs.
While former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, was said to have been the clear favourite to land the position, the camp of Senator Bola Tinubu, reportedly backed former acting national chairman of the party and a former Osun State governor, Bisi Akande, for the position.
At a point, Tinubu himself allegedly showed interest in the leadership position of the Board with over 100 members and largely seen as the conscience of the party, though its power is only advisory.
The party leadership, however, has resolved to do away with the unwieldy group in favour of another with a manageable membership with specific functions.
The proposed conflict resolution team is structured to have maximum of 30 members.
Whenever any chapter of the party is witnessing any internal crisis, the team is expected to move over and resolve the issues amicably.
The new arrangement is to be endorsed by the party’s NEC.
The abolition of BoT is also expected to end the schism between the camps of Atiku and Tinubu.
The structure of the conflict resolution leadership is reportedly not yet determined.
Meanwhile, the party is said to still be going through financial crisis, as contributions from senior party members are said to have nearly dried up.
Buhari was said to have directed the party leadership to raise money through dues from party members.
A source said national leaders of the party were now responsible for the financial involvement of their engagements, including not being paid salary.
The absence of well-structured party membership procedure is said to have made it impossible to collect the dues as directed by the president.
“The online membership registration, if done, would have made it easy to collect such dues, but that is not yet done. There is a party budget, but no cash backing,” the source volunteered.
It was also learnt that the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun isn’t likely to be exited before the end of his tenure, as no federal appointment is reportedly on the table for him as being rumoured.
A governor being reportedly tipped to replace him is also said not to be on the successor list of the powers-that-be in the party.