…Party Braces For Big Battle Ahead
…Late Hour Horse Trading, Compromise Saves Party From The Brink
…Convention a Win-Win For Buhari, Governors
…Tinubu, Osinbajo’s Presidential Bid Shaky
…Full List of 72-member Officers
March 27, (THEWILL) – After successfully organising their party’s National Convention on Saturday, March 26, 2022, big wigs of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) are saddled with the task of managing the fallout from the intrigues, horse trading and compromises that attended the event.
With the 2023 general election at the back of their minds, the stakes were so high that aspirants and leaders of the party in the various geo-political zones jostled for key positions to protect either their interests or frustrate the ambition of others.
Before the convention, there was a subtle presidential threat, THEWILL gathered, intended to whip any defaulters into line after President Muhammadu Buhari met twice with the 22 governors of the party and then with the leaders of legacy parties that merged to form the APC and successfully canvassed a consensus arrangement and zonal representation at the convention.
The meeting with the founding leaders of the party, which held last Thursday was attended by the Interim Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; Senator Rochas Okorocha, former governors of Lagos, Kano and Sokoto States, Ahmed Bola Tinubu; Ibrahim Shekarau and Aliyu Wamako, respectively, as well as the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi; and the Chairman, Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party, Mai Mala Buni, were also in attendance.
President Buhari, who had been aloof to party matters, suddenly showed some statesmanship to ensure that the party held its convention.
According to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, he met twice with the governors, first, to disclose his preference for the North Central as the zone to produce the National Chairman and for the second time, when he pointedly told them that Senator Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State was his choice for that position.
He also met with all the seven candidates for the office of National Chairman. They included ex- Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-Makura and his predecessor, Abdullahi Adamu; Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, George Akume; a Senator from Niger East, Sani Musa; Saliu Mustapha from Kwara State and an aide to the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Etsu. Notably, all seven aspirants hailed from the North-Central geo-political zone to which the party zoned the position.
Even then, there was division in the house among the governors over the presidential choice, not necessarily because of Adamu’s suitability for the position, but because, as it later became clear to some of them, President Buhari was asking for too much, as a source put it to THEWILL. He wanted other choice positions for the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Meanwhile, the Governor Bagudu Atiku-led Progressives Governors Forum, tried to woo all the state governors in the party to the President’s side on the issue. All through Thursday and Friday, negotiations were still going on far into the night up till Saturday evening during the convention.
That was why Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who headed the National Convention Media and Publicity Sub-Committee, could not fulfill his promise to make the UNITY LIST of aspirants to be adopted at the convention through consensus before Saturday. But by 2 a.m on that day, all the other seven contestants for the National Chairman, stepped down for Adamu and signed a consensual statement to that effect.
BUHARI’S ‘OFFENDING LIST’
According to its Director of Publicity, Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, the CECPC had deliberated on and approved the recommendations of the Committee on zoning, which was headed by the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
Positions zoned to the North-Central were National Chairman, National Vice Chairman (North-Central), Deputy National Secretary, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex-Officio Member.
The South-South got the positions of National Vice Chairman (South-South), National Publicity Secretary, National Women Leader, Deputy National Treasurer, Deputy National Welfare Secretary, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex-Officio Member.
Offices zoned to the South-West were National Secretary, National Vice Chairman (South-West), National Youth Leader, National Physically Challenged Leader, Deputy National Auditor, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex-Officio Member.
The South-East had Deputy National Chairman (South), National Vice-Chairman (South-East), National Treasurer, National Welfare Secretary, Deputy National Organising Secretary, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex – Officio Member.
Positions zoned to the North-East were Deputy National Chairman (North), National Auditor, National Vice Chairman (North-East), Deputy National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Women Leader, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex – Officio Member.
The North-West had the positions of National Vice Chairman (North West), National Legal Adviser, National Organising Secretary, National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Youth Leader, Zonal Secretary, Zonal Youth Leader, Zonal Organising Secretary, Zonal Women Leader, Zonal Special Leader (Persons with Disabilities – PWD) and National Ex-Officio Member.
One of the reasons why it was difficult to agree on a consensus before Saturday for many positions, including Buhari’s choice for the national chairmanship position, Adamu, was what party stalwarts described as the President’s clique’s deft move to pick choice representatives from all the geo-political zones for positions in the party NEC, made up of 22 members.
According to party sources, apart from choosing the National Chairmanship, Buhari clique also chose key positions for the South-East, South-West, North-Central and the North-East.
In the South-East, Buhari and his men chose former Senate President, Ken Nnamani for the position of Deputy National Chairman, South. Others are former Representative of Birnin-Kudu at the House of Representative and an unrepentant Buharist, Farouk Aliyu from Jigawa State for the position of National Organising Secretary, Waziri Bulama, a former acting National Secretary from Borno State during Adams Oshiomole’s tenure as National Chairman of the party, for the position of Deputy National Chairman, North.
For the South-West, they approved the choice of Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele of Ondo State for the position of National Secretary, a position that was micro-zoned to Oyo and Osun States. Oyedele, a 2020 governorship aspirant in Ondo State, was said to have been nominated by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who we gathered later switched his support for Senator Iyiola Omisore for the post, following overtures from the aspirant as well as pressures from the five APC Governors in the zone.
At a point, another Buhari loyalist in the South-West and former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, worked with the CPC elements in the party to get presidential approval for Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi for the position of National Vice Chairman, South-West. This move conflicted with the choice of the governors of the zone who had unanimously chosen Mr. Isaac Kekemeke from Ondo State for the position. Kekemeke eventually emerged following negotaitions.
Omisore was said to have enjoyed the support of Osun State governor, Gboyega Oyetola, a member of the CENCP and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a frontline presidential aspirant. He was seen with Tinubu a fortnight ago at the National Assembly when the former Lagos governor paid a consultation visit to solicit support for his presidential ambition.
Omisore also holds the aces in the Osun State governorship election scheduled for July 16, 2022 because he dictates the political tunes in the Ife District of the state, which was crucial to the victory of Oyetola in 2018. A repeat performance from him is expected in the forthcoming poll in the state.
THE WARNING
According to a party source, zones were informed that failure to include any of the candidates approved by Buhari in their micro-zoned list would be voted against at the convention. In other words, only a consensus that included the presidential nominees would be accepted. Mostly affected by this warning was the South-West where the presidential choice was seen as an imposition.
Sensing what he called an imposition of CPC men in the South-West, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had kicked against it in a statement. As an alternative, he also canvassed a list of the South-West. In it, a former Chairman of the party in Ondo State, Kekemeke, was nominated for the position of National Vice Chairman. With opposition still coming from members, the governors took over the process to ensure the party stayed together. Key Governors in the Progressives Governors Forum made their feelings known to the President and got approval to go into negotiations.
Standing on his resolution to make the convention a success, President Buhari caved in on his earlier position. This led to the trade-off that saved the party from implosion and rancour. Senator Ken Nnamani was replaced with Chief Emma Eneukwu, also from Enugu State. Otunba Iyiola Omisore replaced Oyedele, while Senator Abubakar Kyari replaced Waziri Bulama. The bulk of the stakeholders in the party appeared somewhat content with the outcome of the convention where national party officers were elected through consensus.
THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEW APC NWC
Following the compromise and negotiations, most of the following party officers emerged as endorsed in the list obtained by THEWILL, tagged ‘National Convention 2022 Endorsement List.’
The list as ratified at the convention, are:
1. National Chaiman – Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nassarawa State); 2. Deputy National Chaiman (North) – Sen. Abubakar Kyari (Borno State); 3. Deputy National Chaiman (South) – Chief Emma Eneukwu (Enugu State); 4. National Secretary – Otunba lyiola Omisore (Osun State); 5. Deputy National Secretary – Barr. Fetus Fuanter (Plateau State); 6. National Vice Chaiman (North Central) – Muhazu Bawa Rijau (Niger State); 7. National Vice Chaiman (North East) – Mustapha Salihu (Adamawa State); 8. National Vice Chaiman (North West – Salihu Lukman (Kaduna State); 9. National vice Chaiman (South East) – Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu (Imo State); 10. National Vice Chaiman (South South) – Chief Hon. Victor Ton Giadom (Rivers State); 11. National Vice Chaiman (South West) – D.I Kekemeke (Ondo State); 12. National Legal Adviser – Barr. Ahmed El-Marzuik (Katsina State); 13. National Treasurer – Uguru Mathew Ofoke (Ebonyi State); 14. National Financial Secretary – Bashir Usman Gumel (Jigawa State); 15. National Organizing Secretary – Suleiman M Argungun (Kebbi State); 16. National Welfare Secretary- Barr (Sir) F. N. Nwosu (Abia State); 17. Martional Publicity Secretary – Barr. Felix Morka (Delta State); 18. National Auditor – Sen. Abubakar Malkafi (Bauchl State); 19. National Women Leader – Dr. Beta Edu (Cross River State); 20. National Youth Leader – Abdulahl Dayo lsreal (Lagos); 21. Special (Persons with Disability (PWD) Laader -Tolu Bankole (Ogun State); 22. Deputy National Legal Adviser – Barr. Ibrahim Salawu (Kwara Stste); 23. Deputy National Treasurer -Hon. Omorede Osifo (Edo State); 24. Deputy National Financial Secretary – Hamma-Adama Ali Kuro (Gombe); 25. Deputy National Organising Secretary – Nzo Chidi Duru (Anambra); 26. National Publicity Secretary – Yakubu Murtala Ajaka (Kogi); 27. Deputy National Welfare Secretary – Christoper Akpan (Akwa Ibom); 28. Deputy National Auditor -Olufemi Egbedeyi (Oyo); 29. Deputy National Woman Leader – Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim (Taraba); 30. Deputy National Youth Leader – Jamaluddeen Kabir (Zamfara); 31. National Ex-officio (North central) – Oluwatoyin Opawuye (Kwara); 32. National Ex-officio (North East) – Sirajo Dahuwa (Bauchi); 33.National Ex-officio (North West) – Allyu Ahmed Yako (Kano state); 34, National Ex-officio (South East) – Aqunwa Anekwe (Anambra); 35. National Ex-officio (South South) – Diriwari Akedewei (Bayelsa state); 36. National Ex-officio (South West) – Bunmi Oriniowo (Ekiti state); 37. Zonal Secretary (North central) – Yakubu Mohammed Adamu (FCT); 38. Zonal Secretary (North East) – Mohammed Wali Shettima (Yobe state); 39. Zonal Secretary (North West) – Bello Goronyo (Sokoto state); 40. Zonal Secretary (South East) – Azobu Innocent Tapa (Ebonyi state); 41. Zonal Secretary (South South) – Ita Udosen (Akwa Ibom state); 42. Zonal Secretary (South West) – Vincent Bewaji (Ekiti state); 43. Zonal Legal Adviser (North central) – Hadiza Aliyu (Kogi State); 44. Zonal Legal Adviser (North East) – Dauda Chakpo (Taraba state); 45. Zonal Legal Adviser (North West) – Bashir Usaini Dutse (Jigawa state);
46. Zonal Legal Adviser (South East)- Mayor Ogbona Earnest (Ebonyi state); 47. Zonal Legal Adviser (South West) – Isma’il Kolawole Majoro (Oyo state); 48. Zonal Organising Secretary (North central) – Ahmed Attah (Kogi state); 49. Zonal Organising Secretary (North East) – Abubakar Adamu Musa (Taraba state); 50. Zonal Organising Secretary (North West) – Salisu Uba (Zamfara state); 51. Zonal Organising Secretary (South East) – Dozie Ikedife (Anambra state); 52. Zonal Organising Secretary (south south) – Blessing Agbome (Edo State); 53. Zonal Organising Secretary (South West) – Lateef Ibirogba (Lagos state); 54. Zonal Publicity Secretary (North central) – John Okoho (Benue state); 55. Zonal Publicity Secretary (North- East) – Lamido Mohammed (Gombe State); 56. Zomal Publicity Secretay (North West) – Musa Makafiya ( Zamfara); 57. Zonal Publicity Secretary (South East) – Augustine Onyedebelu (imo State); 58. Zonal Publicity Secretary (South South); 59. Zonal Publicity Secretary (South West) – Ayo Afolabi (Osun State); 60. Zonal Women Leader (Norh cantral) – Oluwatoyin Opawuye (Kwara State); 61. Zonal Woman Leader (North East) – Hon. Zainab Abubakar Alman (Gombe State); 62. Zonal Woman Leader (North West) – Hajiya Hadiza Shagari (Sokoto State); 63. Zonal Women Laader (South East) – Hon. Mimi Uchenna Diyokeh (Enugu State); 64. Zonal Women Leader (South South) – Miss Caroline Omugha (Bayelsa State); 65. Zonal Women Leader (South West) – Mrs.Yetunde Adesanya (Ogun Stata); 66. Zonal Youth Leader (North central) – Zubairu Aliyu ((Kwara State); 67. Zonal Youth Leader (North East) – Jason Baba Kwaghe (Adamawa State); 68. Zonal Youth Leader (North West) – Abdulhamid Umar Mohammed (kano state); 69. Zonal Youth Loader (South East)- Hon. Ihonna Anyalevechi (Abla 5tate); 70. Youth Leader (South South) – Comrade Ehimobowe (Delta State); 71. ZonalYouth Leader (South West) – Kolade Lawal (Ondo State); 72. Zonal Leader of Person with Disabilly (North Central) – Labo Lazarus Audu (Benue State); 73. Zonal Leader of Person with Disability (North East) – Mohammed Baba Isa (Yobe State); 74. Zonal Leader of Person wlh Disability (North West) – Lawal Na Rago (Kano State); 75. Zonal Leader of Person With Disability (South East) – Dr. Nwachukwu Stanley Chinedu (Imo State); 76. Zonal Leader of Person with Disability (South South) – Chief Edet Asia (Cross River State).
THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PARTY AND TINUBU’S PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION
For the APC, Buhari’s decision brought temporary relief from the bickering and intrigues that took place during the build-up to the convention.
With just a few months to the 2023 general election, many competing interests had jostled to position themselves along lines of the legacy parties that merged into the APC, namely the Congress for Progressive Change, Action Congress of Nigeria, the All Nigeria Peoples Party and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
From his medical vacation in the England, where he had gone for a routine medical checkup, the President intervened to restore order in the party.
Some governors were accused of working with the National Caretaker Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Buni, to upstage the party’s move towards a successful hosting of the convention, while Governor Sani Bello of Niger State temporarily took charge.
The consensus arrangement for electing national officers at the convention was the President’s last ditch effort to hold the shifting grounds in the party. According to Governor Lalong, the zoning and consensus agreement united governors who were “disunited” before the President took the decision after two meetings with him and the Progressives Governors Forum agreed.
The governor added that the consensus decision was easy to accept because the party had always adopted it in its choice of former National Chairman.
“In our own case in APC, we used it during the election of Chief John Oyegun. The election of his successor, Adams Oshiomhole, was also by consensus. That is why the President asked us to continue. That the President had to take the decision is nothing strange because everyone who wants to contest any elective post usually goes to consult with the President,” he said.
Yet with the President shifting ground to accommodate other interests in the party’s NEC, which will run the affairs of the APC henceforth and organise the party’s primaries in May, it is quite clear that Buhari has opened more windows for accommodation for now. The battle next time will move to plotting the emergence of a Presidential candidate of the party, for which he disclosed in a Television interview that he has a preferred candidate but refused to disclose the person’s identity for fear of a possible assassination attempt.
At another level, Tinubu’s presidential ambition and that of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the platform of the party is threatened with the composition of the NWC. Though Tinubu could be said to have supported the governors of the South West in their bid to have their men in the NWC, he did so for political survival. Lagos his home state did not get the key positions allotted to the zone. Vice President Osibanjo, who is from Ogun State, had minimal to zero input in who got what in the zone, according to our findings.
Omisore’s emergence as the National Secretary, the engine room of the party, took the buy-in of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, a close ally of Buhari, to successfully sail through.
Moreover, the inclusion of Omisore in the South-West list for strategic reasons, given his influence in the forthcoming July governorship poll, is expected to further widen the crack in the Tinubu camp in the South-West, where the yet to be resolved death of former Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, re-echoes among many who accused Omisore of involvement, despite being exonerated by the courts. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the Interim National Chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande, to a questionable degree, considering the latter’s loyalty to Tinubu, are vocal opponents of the new National Secretary, a stand that will make Omisore more comfortable with the Aso Rock group.
Speaking on the anticipated crisis in the APC, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and a member of the party’s National Convention Media Sub-Committee said that as a young political party, the APC “has to go through steps of growth. What is going on in the party is a reflection of the national crisis in the country. What we try to do is to ensure there is compliance with the rules.”
The APC was formed on February 6, 2013 and became the ruling party in 2015 following its shocking defeat of the erstwhile ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party.
About the Author
Amos Esele is the Deputy Editor of THEWILL Newspaper. He has over two decades of experience on the job.
