APC Chairmanship: How Buhari Tied Opposing Governors’ Hands

APC chairmanship unleashes contentions in the ruling party

OpenLife Nigeria has gathered that ahead of the March 26 national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, state chairmen of the party have thrown their weight behind a former governor of Nasarawa State, Adamu Abdullahi, to become the national chairman of the party.
Adamu Abdullahi, a two term governor of Nasarawa State under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is a serving senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District on APC platform.
The aging Senator is President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice for APC chairmanship which has been zoned to north central geo political zone.
According to information, the APC State chairmen’s decision followed the insistence of the President Muhammadu Buhari that Abdullahi should lead the party.
Buhari, it was learnt, had at a meeting attended by the Progressives Governors Forum in Aso Rock, Abuja rejected a zoning arrangement proposed by some of the governors and did not hide his preference for the former governor.
This was despite strong resistance from some stakeholders of the APC who warned against an attempt to impose Abdullahi and a former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani, as the party’s national chairman and deputy national chairman, respectively.
Those opposed to the idea described the duo as former staunch members of the Peoples Democratic Party who should not be chosen ahead of loyal and consistent APC members who were qualified to occupy the coveted offices.
Others eyeing the chairmanship seat of the APC at the party’s national convention are a former governor of Zamafara State, Abdulaziz Yari; a former governor of Nassarwa State, Tanko Al-Makura; a two-term governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume; and a former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sherif.
At the moment, OpenLife’s findings indicate that the state chapters would work towards the emergence of Abdullahi as the next national chairman of the party.
This has ostensibly caused disaffection between most state governors and their party chairmen.
The unity that existed before the choice of Abdullahi by Buhari has evaporated.
Insiders disclosed to OpenLife that the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha was the Presidential arrow head that approached the state chairmen to align with Buhari choice with a promise of tickets to contest positions as well as appointments when the party wins in the 2023 elections.
This assurance, OpenLife was told, sank well with the state chairmen and that was the beginning of the shift of loyalty from the governors.
In Zamfara State for instance, the party says the state would support whoever was nominated by the President as the consensus candidate for the chairmanship position.
The APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Alhaji Yusuf Idris, said, “We will support anybody who is nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari or our great party, the APC, as a consensus candidate.
“As such, we are ready to go with whatever decision or directive given to us by the national headquarters of our party or President Buhari.”
Also, the Rivers State chapter of the party says it would stand behind the Buhari’s choice.
Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Chris Fynebone, who stated this on Friday, said the President had the interest of the majority of the party members at heart.
“Indeed, we have also heard that the president had endorsed Adamu Abdullahi for the position of national chairman. For us in APC Rivers State, we are open to whatever decision the President takes.
“So, if it happens to be true, we have no choice but to go with him. We believe that we can refer to him (the President) as the leader of the party who has the best interest of the party at heart,” Fynebone added.
Similarly, the Ekiti State chapter of the APC said it would also follow the decision of the party at the national level.
Its spokesperson, Segun Dipe, said, “We have the National Caretaker Committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni, which will work with the leaders at the national level to decide on what is appropriate for the party for the convention.”
Asked whether the party in the state would support Abdullahi as the consensus candidate, Dipe said, “We will subscribe to the superior authority of those at the helm of affairs. It is not whether we subscribe to anything right now; we will rather say we believe in the party and where the party is going. We believe in the wisdom of the leaders to come out with the best for the party.”
In Edo State, the party said it would respect the decision of the national caretaker committee on the format the convention would take.
Deputy Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Victor Osehobo, said, “For us in APC, we will abide by the decision of the caretaker committee. Whatever template that is presented is what we will follow across the country including the Edo Chapter of the APC. Whether it is consensus or election, the picture will become clearer when we get to convention ground. We will have to wait till the day of the convention to know the next line of action.”
Similarly, the party in Osun State said it would not go against the choice of the leader of the party.
APC state chairman, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, who spoke through his media aide, Kola Olabisi, said, “APC has a hierarchy. Whatever people saddled with the responsibility to determine the person that will paddle the canoe of the party decide, there is no way state chapters, Osun State inclusive, can go against it. The bidding of the party at the federal level is what we will abide by on this issue.”
His Ondo State counterpart, Mr Ade Adetimehin, said his state would align with the position of the President on the matter.
Adetimehin said, “I, as a chairman of the APC in Ondo State, go with the position of the national leadership of the party. In the constitution of our party, there is room for consensus, a direct or indirect way of electing our leaders. Out of the three options, anyone the national leadership chooses, I’ll concur.”
However, the Chairman of the party in Kwara State, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said the choice of Senator Abdullahi as the consensus candidate for the national chairmanship of the party was still a rumour.
“The purported choice of Senator Adamu Abdullahi by President Buhari as the next national chairman of APC is still a rumour. The President has not told anyone about his choice. This is the time for politics. If a candidate could not emerge as a consensus candidate and if the leaders could not agree on a single candidate, the best option is that the party will go for election.”
In Nasarawa State, which is the home state of Abdullahi, the party said it would support any of the aspirants chosen by the President.
The Chairman of the APC in the state, John Mamman, said, “There is a hierarchy of leadership in the party. The leadership of the party in Nasarawa State endorsed Umaru Tanko Al-makura for the national chairmanship position but the endorsement is one exercise while getting it through at Abuja is another exercise.
“Apart from Nasarawa State, we still have 35 others states and the Federal Capital Territory to decide on the issue. So, if President Buhari gives a direction on the matter, we would have to follow him because he is our leader.”
However, the party in Delta State said it had yet to take a position on the issue.
APC chairman in the state, Omeni Sobotie, said, “I have not been told that Mr President has adopted somebody. When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. No statement has been issued that the President has adopted any candidate. We are in a democracy. When the aspirants come to see us, based on our assessment of them, we will take a position.”
The state Publicity Secretary of the APC in Akwa Ibom, Mr Nkerwuem Eyongekere, said, “What we know is that there will be a convention and people will be elected. On Thursday, we got a letter to that effect from the national secretariat of the APC signed by the national secretary. If people have chosen anybody then there would have been no reason for the convention.”
In Bayelsa, the party said it was awaiting the zoning committee’s report.
The state Chairman, Dennis Otiotio-Odoni, said, “I am not aware Adamu has been adopted (by the President). I have not been informed as chairman of APC, Bayelsa State. I am aware that the national secretariat (of the party) just appointed a zoning committee and it is expected to submit its report by next week. So, I think it will be premature to talk about who (becomes national chairman), when we don’t know where the chairmanship is zoned to.”
Source: Punch Newspaper