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National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, ruled out the possibility of inaugurating the controversial Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) and formally kick-starting the party’s campaign next week.

There were speculations that the two important functions would be conducted next week following the return of the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the country yesterday.

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A member of the PCC told the reporter that arrangements have been concluded for the campaign kick-off and formal inauguration of the campaign council next week.

He said in the meeting held on Wednesday by the NWC, seven members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and leadership of the PCC, smoothened the frosty relationship among the gladiators.

But a member of the national leadership of the party who declined to be mentioned said it was a remote possibility for the party’s campaign to formally kick off next week.

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Sources told the reporter that the campaign may not kick off after all because of the inability of both the party’s leadership and PCC to sort out grey areas concerning the controversial campaign council list.

“Yes, unofficially, the campaign has started, but we all know that the differences surrounding the campaign council list have not been sorted out. That is the reason the PCC Director-General, Governor Simon Lalong, confirmed during the meeting on Wednesday that he ordered the suspension of further activities concerning the list to enable them consult further.

“The party’s leadership is still waiting for their response as our national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, reminded them that the leadership must take charge of the activities. The inauguration of the PCC and the kick-off of the campaign is not something we should do in a hurry as the ruling party.

“Again, the PCC leadership has not intimated the party’s leadership the outcome of their consultation concerning the list they suspended. So, what may be practically impossible for now is the possibility of any of the two activities taking place next week. However, we will watch and see how events unfold this coming weekend,” our source said.

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Asked if the meeting proposed a tentative date for the much-awaited National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the member of the party’s leadership said that no date was proposed.

“I don’t understand this concerns about holding NEC meeting because the party is functioning very well even without NEC meeting. Let me also dispel the speculations that the future of our national chairman depends on the NEC meeting. There is no iota of truth in that. NEC meeting is not too important now,” the source argued.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the ruling party finally arrived the country late yesterday from London where he travelled for consultations.

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Tinubu’s plane arrived at the Abuja international airport at about 6:00 p.m.

His arrival has laid to rest the intense speculations about the state of his health since he left the country over one week.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has returned to Nigeria over a week after he travelled to the UK.

There have been rumours that the candidate was holed up sick in London and would not return soon to commence campaigns for next year’s election. His campaign council, however, denied the reports, saying he was in London to get some rest before the full take off of political activities.

(Sun)