By Laraba MUREY
The dust appears to have settled around the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, after the drama over rescheduling of dates, alleged hidden court order, and dramatic replacement of former Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, Mai Mala Buni by Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State.
Nigerians were perplexed to learn that Buni, whom they were told flew out on a medical trip to Dubai, was the reason for the takeover of the office of the Chairman CECPC by Governor Bello. They found it even more shocking when pictures of Buni surfaced in the media with President Muhammadu Buhari in London.
It, however, didn’t come as a surprise when President Buhari made a U-turn, barely one week from the earlier order of his ouster. He also affirmed his decision in a letter stating that Buni be allowed to remain as the interim Chairman, CECPC to conduct the March 26 national convention.
The president’s move quailed the party’s leadership impasse while he was still on his routine medical trips overseas. Attention quickly moved to who will become the party’s national chairman as activities towards the convention resumed in full gear. The battle for the soul of APC ensued. Consultations and meetings held multiple times to appease aspiring candidates so as to finally arrive at a preferred candidate for the third substantive national chairman of the party.
Observers and pollsters alike were stunned by the intrigues and political games when Senator Abdulahi Adamu eventually emerged winner of the party’s national chairmanship position. Adamu has since been handed the reins of the party and will lead the party into the 2023 polls. According to political analysts, this position was not accidental as it has been predicted when Senator Adamu was made to chair the party’s reconciliation committee.
Party supporters’ focus is now gravitating towards winning all contested offices of the 2023 general election, bearing in mind increased political activities and the challenge posed by other competitors.
Adamu’s political escapades have earned him the nickname “Bridge.” Whispers among his political counterparts is that mere mentioning of his name sends jitters in the opposition camp. He is believed to have set the bar high in the country’s political arena.
However, prior to occupying the office of the national chairman, Senator Adamu has boasted about never losing any political contest since 1978, indicating 45 years of practicing partisan politics, during which he rose to become a former two-term governor of Nasarawa State, and a Senator representing Nasarawa west.
Few hours before the start of the APC convention, those contending for the highest office in the party began to step down and to further uphold the decision, the chairman electoral committee 2022 who is also Governor of Jigawa State, Badaru Abubakar, in a voice vote from about 7500 delegates in attendance, affirmed the adoption of Senator Adamu as the party chairman alongside the unity list of the party.
It was gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari had persuaded six other candidates who had earlier indicated interest and purchased forms for N20 Million each to step down. They dropped their ambitions by withdrawing from the race for Senator Abdulahi Adamu to emerge the anointed, third substantive national chairman of the party.
On behalf of himself and other candidates, Senator George Akume wrote, “May l kindly refer to the appeal by Mr. President for the Chairmanship aspirants of our great party to agree to a consensus arrangement wherein our colleague H.E. Sen. Abdullahi Adamu is made our consensus candidate for the chairmanship position.”
The other candidates were Tanko Al-Makura, George Akume, Abdulaziz Yari, Sani Musa Muhammed Comm. Etsu Muhammed Turaki Salifu Mustapha.
Questions in the minds of Party pundits are can Adamu deliver 2023 general election? Can Adamu consolidate on the successes of those that have occupied this office? How will he resolve the multiple court cases that are before the party? How successful will his reconciliation strategies be, especially with reports of defections already happening?
Declaring himself as the right man for the job, Senator Adamu, said “From about the year 1978 to date, I have never lost an election. And it is my hope that if I get the opportunity to serve as chairman, I would provide the leadership necessary for APC to continue to dominate the political space in this country.
Recently, during his handing over, Adamu said “I want to say on behalf of the new NWC that it is not going to be an easy time for us. We have a major event that is going to test the water but how stable we are as a party. That is the general election that is coming. For me, by the time we start working, our main task will be how we handle the elections as a party.
“We will work day and night. We have less than 12 months to face the general elections. So, everybody should buckle up.”
Results by Adamu’s predecessors
Both Adamu’s predecessors have won the highest political office in the country. Chief John Odigie Oyegun, the first national chairman of APC-led then opposition, won the presidency for Muhammad Buhari in 2015 after defeating ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan. First time an incumbent president is defeated in elections.
Adams Oshiomhole, wearing the big shoes of Oyegun as the National Chairman of APC crushed the PDP and got President Buhari re-elected in 2019, despite his tenure being cut short by a court order suspending him from office barely two years in.
Expectations from Adamu
Party chieftains and supporters of the party have high expectations for the national chairman. Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said in his congratulatory message to Adamu, “With the successful conclusion of the national convention, our great party is good to go for our primaries within the timeframe prescribed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“I am confident that we will also have peaceful primaries that will propel us to another resounding success at the general elections in 2023. Posterity will recognise their great sacrifices. The emergence of Sen. Adamu and his great team from a rancour-free convention has drawn the envies of our rivals and sent jitters down their spines. I share this common belief in his suitability for piloting the affairs of our great party APC, from this very important juncture,” Lawn said.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo, expressing delight over the outcome of the convention, urged the new national chairman to bring his wealth of experience as the 2023 race gets closer as he is called to serve the largest party in Africa.
“On behalf of the government and good people of Imo, I most heartily congratulate His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on his emergence as the national chairman of our great party, the APC, at the just concluded national convention,” Uzodimma said.
APC as a party boasts of having over 40 million members nationwide and in the diaspora.
