APC crisis gets worsens as faction ‘nullifies’ Buni’s committee

The crisis engulfing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was exacerbated yesterday by the formation of a factional Caretaker Committee led by Prince Mustapha Audu and the purported disbandment of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) by one of the party’s support groups, the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM).

This comes less than a week after the PYM convened in Kaduna State and approved a vote of no confidence in the Buni-led CECPC, ordering the interim committee to resign.

The youth organization remarked that the caretaker committee had overstayed its welcome to organize a national convention for the party at a town hall meeting themed, “Ready to lead, now or never,” which drew youngsters from the Northwest geopolitical zone to Murtala Square in Kaduna.

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Following the turmoil that saw the party’s former leader, Adams Oshiomhole, resign, Buni, the governor of Yobe State, was chosen chairman of the CECPC in June 2020.

The new CECPC has been given the task of organizing the party’s national convention, which will take place on February 26.

In recent weeks, the party’s national secretariat has been heavily guarded after party leaders claimed intelligence reports of a planned violent takeover.

Before its scheduled February 26, 2021 convention, Audu organized a National Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Mr Hassan Saddiq Arivi, to reconcile dissatisfied members.

Audu revealed a zoning mechanism for slots in the new National Working Committee (NWC) for the party’s February 26 national convention, while charging the young factional caretaker committee to carry out their duty with complete integrity and honor.

Governor Buni, on the other hand, retaliated quickly, requesting that Audu and his companions be arrested for treasonous felony. Mustapha is the son of Prince Abubakar Audu, a former governor of Kogi and a late party chieftain.

The action was dismissed by the CECPC’s secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, as “the felonious acts of a purported gang.”

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They are not known to the party, its structure, or as a registered support group, according to the scribe’s statement.

“However ludicrous, the putative group’s unlawful attempt to takeover the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari’s APC has now been charged with treasonable felony.

“Now is the time for relevant security bodies to check and resolve their unethical acts. The party will not give the alleged group the attention they seek.

“All we can say is that the general public should ignore them.” They are not registered members of the APC and are being utilized to confuse the public by opposition forces and fifth columnists.

AUDU, speaking during the group’s first meeting in Abuja, said that the sacking of the Buni-led committee was intended at addressing the party’s problems.

“We are aware of the variety of issues within the party, our party has a history of shying away from true reconciliation and in many cases imposing chastisement on members who should have been praised for their commitment towards developing the APC,” he stated, justifying their formation.

“It is apparent that the party has taken a backward path in recent years, and it is incumbent on all well-intentioned party members to roll up their sleeves and do what is necessary to guarantee that we remedy the mistakes that have been made in order to ensure success in 2023 for all stakeholders.”

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“As the election year approaches, let us join hands to promote internal democracy in our party and demonstrate to Nigerians that we have what it takes and deserve their votes in 2023.”

Chairman, Prince Mustapha Audu; Vice Chairman, Tukur Tukur Buratai; Vice Chairman, Busayo Akinnadeju; Southwest representative, Omowunmi Ogungbaibi; Southeast representative, Nonso Nwaebili; South-South representative, Prince Godswill Edward; North-central representative, Dr Ibrahim Abdul; Northeast representative, Ibrahim A Waziri; and Northwest representative, Bello Bala Shagari

Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan represents the Senate; Femi Gbajabiamila represents the House of Representatives; Sajo Xcarfini represents the physically challenged; Dr. Young Piero represents the youth; Fatima Lawal Rafindadi represents the women; and Tonye Isokariari represents the secretary.

President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex-Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, Senator Vivian Okadigbo, Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, Governor Babagana Umaru Zulum of Borno State, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State are among the members of the fact

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In another move, the party’s leadership has refuted media rumors that the position of national chairman has been assigned to the geopolitical zone of the north. Akpanudoedehe, the party’s scribe, revealed this while interacting with journalists in Abuja yesterday.

He claimed that the subject of national office zoning was not included in the CECPC’s mission when it was established in June 2020.

“People are simply flying what will benefit their own interests; all I know is that the caretaker committee has not considered or decided on zoning.”

Senator Victor Lar, Media Director of the Sen. Ali-Modu Sheriff Campaign Organization, said the report was not only ludicrous, but also a fiction of the imagination of those who wrote it. Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State, is one of the APC’s presidential candidates.

Members of one of its legacy parties, the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), are split on whether to support Tanko Almakura, a former governor of Nasarawa State, or Malam Saliu Mustapha, a former deputy national chairman of the CPC. According to those who were in the disbanded CPC with both Almakura and Mustapha, the difficulty sprang from the two party chieftains’ chances and qualifications.

While the former Nasarawa governor was the only governor the CPC had at the time, Mustapha, Turaki of Ilorin, is reported to have been a long-time associate of President Buhari, who led the CPC prior to the merger that gave rise to the APC.

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The APC leaders argued that because the defunct Bola Tinubu-led Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) produced the interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, as well as the two substantive national chairmen, Chief John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, it is now the turn of the CPC to produce the party’s next national chairman.

“Many of us are divided on who to back,” a source from the CPC legacy party told our correspondent in Abuja yesterday.

“Some of us prefer Al-Makura because of his pedigree as a former governor and his clout among his fellow former governors, but Mustapha is a founding member of the CPC with a strong background in party administration and was a driving force in The Buhari Organization” (TBO).

“His support base among CPC members cannot be discounted,” he noted, “particularly as he appears to be a rallying point for many stakeholders within our organization, as well as younger individuals in the APC.”

CPC members have limited it down to Al-Makura and Mustapha, according to the source, because they believe the job will finally be designated to the north-central.

“The two other North-central hopefuls are former Benue State governor George Akume and Senator Sani Musa of Niger State, both of whom have ACN and ANPP backgrounds. As a result, we are adamant that CPC be given the opportunity to sit in that seat.

“We have a strong case because the two major legacy parties have previously produced National Chairmen, and none of our people are expected to run for President after President Buhari.”

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It’s unclear whether CPC factions in APC would eventually settle on Al-Makura and Mustapha as a consensus candidate.

Mustapha stated earlier this weekend in Lagos that his main purpose is to ensure the party’s supremacy rather than that of its members. “I’d also like to see a party that emphasizes equity, fairness, and justice,” he added.

“Among other things, we will not impose candidates for elections; there will be teamwork rather than a one-man show; and we will collaborate with everyone.”

Unlike some other political parties, Turaki Ilorin stated that he will not dictate to party members, adding, “I will be readily accessible, consult widely, and run an all-inclusive administration.” I’ll also make certain that our primaries are free of animosity.

“The candidates who emerge will be those who are acceptable to all members of the party.” When popular candidates do not emerge from open and fair primaries, parties rig.”

Mustapha stated that one of his advantages is his youth, as there is a push for the younger generation to take over leadership. “Because 75 percent of the votes belong to the youths,” he continued, this comes into play.

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“Against this backdrop, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party appointed a 25-year-old man to the role of National Youth Leader. Consider the advantages of having a young person as the APC’s National Chairman.”