Ahead of the National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scheduled for July 18 and 19, an air of uncertainty is hovering over the national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.
Adamu, who emerged as APC national chairman during a national convention organised by the Buni-led caretaker committee at the Eagles Square in Abuja in March 2022, has been under pressure to relinquish his position over allegations of financial impropriety.
A former governor of Nasarawa State, Adamu was former President Muhammadu Buhari’s preferred candidate, and by virtue of this, other contenders for the position of national chairman were asked to step down for him.
But the prospect of exhausting his first tenure of four years in office has been hanging in the balance as some party stakeholders have called for his resignation for the balance of power along religious lines.
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Amidst fears that the NEC, which is the second highest decision-making organ of the party, might show him the exit route following financial and other allegations, Adamu yesterday met with state chairmen of the party in Abuja.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting, which took place at the APC national headquarters was part of efforts by the party’s helmsman to lobby state chairmen ahead of the National Caucus and NEC meetings.
Recall that state chairmen of the APC are members of the NEC and can pass a vote of no confidence on the chairman.
Air of uncertainty
A member of the APC National Caucus who craved anonymity said, “Nobody is sure of what is going to happen.
“There are people who don’t like Adamu’s style of leadership, and there are those who are fanning the embers of chaos and disunity.
“That time, Adamu didn’t support Tinubu, but we have put that behind us, because we have won the election and it is time to unite the party; it is time to unite the country.
“Tinubu is not thinking of sacking Adamu now because it’s too early in the day. Adamu can on his own resign if he is not comfortable.
“If Tinubu can control the party, Adamu cannot do anything. If Tinubu decides to exert full control of the party, Adamu can only take orders from him. So there won’t be crisis as to removing Adamu.”
Another source said if Adamu was to be removed, Tinubu wouldn’t have appointed a former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
He explained that Akume’s appointment was an indication that Adamu would not be removed any time soon.
He said, “Politics is about calculations. Sometimes it’s clear and sometimes it’s dark.
“Let it be on notice that Akume wouldn’t have been appointed SGF. He would have been reserved for the position of APC national chairman if Adamu was to be sacked during NEC.
“Remember, only Mr President can trigger his sack or resignation. If Mr President doesn’t want him out, he will prevail on NEC members not to pass a vote of no confidence on him.”
Recall that the national vice chairman of the party (North-West), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, had asked Adamu to step aside for a Christian to take over his office.
Why we met with Adamu
Addressing newsmen after the meeting with Adamu, Cross River State chairman and acting secretary of the forum of APC chairmen, Alphonsus Oga, said they were invited by the National Working Committee (NWC) for the meeting.
He, however, denied any form of crisis in the party as reason for the postponement of the NEC meeting.
He said, “As you are all aware, since after the election we won and won so well, we have not had the opportunity of meeting our leaders, the national chairman, and members of NWC.
“The opportunity of the planned NEC meeting brought us together on the invitation of the NWC to meet with them and we are happy to announce that it became an opportunity for the forum of APC state chairmen to congratulate the winning chairman of our party, his Excellency, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and his hardworking team of the NWC.”
Asked if the NEC meeting was postponed due to the crisis, Oga said, “This is a moment where rumours and blackmail can thrive, but as a party, there is only one APC, and we came again in solidarity to say we are strongly behind our national chairman and the NWC.
“That is a complete rumour because whatever you might have heard about board membership, those letters were addressed to state chairmen, and every state chairman is loyal to his state governor and where there is no governor, they are loyal to the stakeholders.
Speaking during the opening session, Adamu asked President Tinubu to strengthen the party.
He said, “It is our hope and prayers that Mr President will come along with us in that regard and strengthen the relationship of the party in the states and at the national level to enjoy some level of patronage in the new government.
“Those are the key issues that we do hope to share with you in the course of this meeting.
“We thought that having a meeting with you as chairmen who bear the brunt, of course, the governors are the heads of our party in the states, but you run the party daily and a good blend of understanding between you and the governors and members of the NWC will go more than the ordinary way in enhancing the kind of leadership that we want to have for the party.”
Adamu also expressed optimism that the party would win the Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states’ governorship elections slated for November.
On the nomination of ministers, Adamu said, “The president has just started and he is doing his extensive consultations before coming up with his nominees.”
