APC Chairmanship: Ganduje faces tough battle

This latest leadership crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is President Bola Tinubu’s first real test as party leader.

It has been reported that President Tinubu has officially nominated his close friend and former Governor Umar Ganduje to be the party’s next chairman.

However, Infostride News has learned that Ganduje’s route may not be a smooth one due to split among the National Working Committee of the party and zoning system.

APC Internal Strife

The party’s National Chairman Abdulahi Adamu and National Secretary Iyiola Omisore abruptly resigned on Monday, capping off a months-long internal conflict.

However, the party’s internal turmoil has only deepened since the departure of the two, with the NWC now split between supporters of Adamu and Acting National Chairman Abubakar Kyari.

Since Adamu’s departure, his supporters have either switched to Kyari’s side or gone silent for fear of being marginalized.

The appearance of Kyari as “Acting Chairman” has been criticized by one of the NWC members from the South-east, who spoke with DAILY POST.

The insider, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, explained, “Kyari is from the same state as Vice President Kashim Shettima (Borno)— having someone in the North-central would be the ideal situation.”

The APC constitution, specifically section 14.2, supports Kyari’s appointment to replace Adamu.

When the National Chairman is out of his Zone, clause 14.2 states that “the Deputy Chairman (North and South)…Shall act as the National Chairman.”

Setup of Zones

President Tinubu was accused of marginalizing the North-central region when he appointed a member from the North-west as Speaker of the House and a senator from the region as his deputy. However, the structure was defended by some backers on the grounds that the North Central region already possessed the National Chairman position. A Secretary to the Government of the Federation was subsequently created by executive order of the President.

Many speculate that after Adamu’s departure, the president will look to the North-central for a new vice president. From the Northcentral, the president seems to be looking for a reliable friend among Sen Sani Musa, Tanko Almakura, and Simon Lalong.

Salihu Lukman, the vocal Vice Chairman of the North-west, has already voiced his opposition to the intended appointment of Ganduje as the Chairman of the party, citing zoning concerns.

Lukman, in a statement released on Friday, stated that such an appointment would be disrespectful to North-central residents.

“Ganduje is being considered to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu, according to rumors coming out of the Governor’s group. If this is the case, it reeks of insensitivity and a disregard for the feelings of other party members. This says nothing negative about Ganduje as a person.

No one from the North West or the North Central was considered for the position of Speaker of the House or Deputy Senate President.He stated it would be unfair and “almost political suicide” to suggest that the party’s National Chairman relocate from the North-Central to the North-West.

The president may need to worry about Lukman’s ability to challenge party leaders.

He led the charge that ultimately toppled the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee headed by Mai Mala Buni.

Like Adamu and Omisore, he was unrelenting in his criticism of him, and many in the party gave him credit for their ouster. The NWC may be fragmented and hostile if Ganduje is elected party leader.

Freedom of choice for National Chairman rests with the President.

The ruling party has historically accepted the tradition of having the President appoint National Chairmen of the party. Adams Oshiomhole was chosen as the consensus candidate by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who also chose Buni as the caretaker chairman and Adamu as the consensus candidate.

It looks that Tinubu will continue the party’s custom of selecting its chairman and all signs point to Ganduje.

President Tinubu apparently considers the North-west to be crucial to his re-election, as the party’s National Chairman is a former Governor.