List of Governors that disagreed with Buhari over Oyegun Tenure Elongation revealed

By Adoga Michael Oyi

Details have emerged on the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari’s current issues with some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC over his stance on the tenure elongation of the party’s NWC led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
The list of governors who disagreed with the president are Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Simon Lalong (Plateau).
It was reported that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting with APC Governors ended in a deadlock.
The Governors declined comments after the meeting, with one of them stating they were directed not to speak with reporters.
However, details of some of the disagreements during the meeting have emerged.
“The President convened the meeting in order to discuss the minor differences we have had since the President told NEC meeting that it was better to hold elective congresses and National Convention. Many views were expressed for and against the one-year tenure extension for the NWC. There was a lot of rationalisation of ideas by those who wanted Oyegun’s tenure extended.
“At the session, Governors El-Rufai, Akeredolu, Yahaya Bello and Simon Lalong were vehement on why the tenure of the NWC should be extended by one year.
“Each of them stood up to rationalise the tenure extension by claiming that whatever the NEC does is legal and it won’t have consequences on the legality of APC’s electoral victory in 2019.
“They warned that congresses and National Convention could divide the party and lead to a split before the 2019 polls. They said it would be better to keep the party united than leaving it in disarray.
“But other governors queried the affront of pro-tenure elongation governors in revisiting the advisory of the President on the need to follow the 1999 Constitution and the APC Constitution.
“Those who supported Buhari’s position expressed disappointment that Oyegun went ahead to inaugurate a technical committee which they considered to be an ‘affront to the President,” a source told The Nation.