LAGOS – The ongoing developments within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party, may not come as a surprise to those closely following its internal affairs.
It is well-known that there has been a growing rift between the APC’s national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and President Bola Tinubu. This discord stems from the chairman’s controversial involvement in the party’s presidential primary election. Despite the party’s initial agreement to zone the position to the south, Adamu, against all odds, presented the former senate president as the consensus candidate.
On Monday, the fate of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who had been facing numerous challenges as the National Chairman of the APC, was finally sealed. The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) officially announced his resignation.
The announcement came at the conclusion of today’s NWC meeting held in Abuja (Monday). Acting National Chairman of the party, Senator Abubakar Kyari, confirmed Adamu’s resignation and also revealed that the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has stepped down.
Kyari further stated that he has assumed the role of acting chairman, while Barrister Festus Fuanter, the Deputy National Secretary, will serve as the acting Secretary.
It is worth noting Adamu’s previous reaction to the selection of principal officers in the National Assembly. During a meeting with party governors, Adamu expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the party had no involvement in the selection process of the lawmakers.
He expressed, “The Senate President and Deputy Senate President have already conducted the election for the principal officers of the Senate. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives have also been elected and their roles have been announced.”
“The remaining positions are yet to be determined by the respective chambers. On Saturday, I had a courtesy visit from the Senate President and his Deputy, and on Sunday, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker paid me a Sallah visit.”
“However, I have just learned through online media rumors that there have been certain announcements made in both the Senate and House of Representatives.””The party’s national headquarters and the NWC have not provided any such information or official communication regarding the selection of offices,” Adamu clarified. “We follow established norms and practices, which require us to resolve and communicate in writing. We have no intention of deviating from these traditions.”
Adamu emphasized that any announcements made by the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker, or Deputy Speaker are not endorsed by the secretariat of the party.
Furthermore, apart from causing significant displeasure among some of Tinubu’s supporters, the national chairman went a step further by unilaterally rejecting the principal officers of the National Assembly. These officers were reported to have the full backing of the President.
So, with the humongous power at his disposal as the President, Tinubu feels it is time to cut Adamu to size.
The most important thing in his mind according to close watchers is to do away with Adamu as the national chairman of the party, so that he can position the party to suit him (Tinubu)
To achieve that, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was said to be recruited for the job.
According to reports Adamu’s resignation as APC National Chairman was done on the orders of President Tinubu.
He was said to have written his resignation letter and handed the same to Governor Uzodimma who had the President’s mandate to ensure that happened.
It was earlier reported that the embattled APC National Chairman resigned from his position on Sunday night following an ultimatum given him by President Bola Tinubu.
But what is not yet in the public domain is the role played by Governor Uzodimma, who is the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, the umbrella body of governors of the ruling APC.
A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), who confirmed Adamu’s resignation story last night said President Tinubu gave Uzodimma the charge to secure the chairman’s resignation.
He said, “It is true that Adamu has resigned as the national chairman of APC though he didn’t tell any of us, members of the NWC. What we heard was that the President gave Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, the charge to ensure that Abdullahi Adamu resigns,” the APC NWC member who spoke on condition of anonymity said. “The party’s national headquarters and the NWC have not provided any such information or official communication regarding the selection of offices,” Adamu clarified. “We follow established norms and practices, which require us to resolve and communicate in writing. We have no intention of deviating from these traditions.”
Adamu emphasized that any announcements made by the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker, or Deputy Speaker are not endorsed by the secretariat of the party.
Furthermore, apart from causing significant displeasure among some of Tinubu’s supporters, the national chairman went a step further by unilaterally rejecting the principal officers of the National Assembly. These officers were reported to have the full backing of the President.
