ABUJA, Nigeria – A storm is brewing within the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, prepares to ratify Abdullahi Ganduje as national chairman and Senator Ajibola Basiru as national secretary.
The decision, which follows their selection by consensus, comes on the heels of the resignations of former chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to confirm the NEC meeting’s date at the National Working Committee (NWC)’s request, is a member of the National Caucus that will present the decisions of the APC governors and other party factions to the NEC. The new chairman and secretary are anticipated to take office after the NEC ratification.
A source informed us that the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), under the leadership of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, convened at the Imo State Lodge in Abuja, endorsing Ganduje and Basiru.
Though typically, nominees are ratified by the national convention, the APC constitution empowers the NEC to act instead of the convention during emergencies.
This setup, as outlined in Article 13(ii) and 13.3 A (ii), vests significant authority in the NEC to ratify policies, elect or remove national officers, and summon or convene the national convention.
However, this decision is not without contention.
Salihu Lukman, APC National Vice Chairman (Northwest) and member of the NWC, argued that Ganduje’s selection contradicts the agreed-upon North/South zoning formula and breaches micro-zoning to Northcentral.
In his statement on Monday, July 24, 2023, titled: “APC and question of party building,” Lukman urged the party to return to its constitution’s sanctity and respect the agreed zoning formula.
He stated, “Nobody, including the PGF, should be allowed to seek to entrench arbitrariness and injustice in determining the next National Chairman of APC. We must remind everyone, including President Tinubu, that the agreed zoning formula in APC cedes the position of national chairman of the party to Northcentral.”
Lukman also mentioned that the former chairman and secretary had to resign due to not letting the party’s statutory organs fulfill their constitutional duties, prompting the need for a more cooperative leadership style.
Ganduje, a two-time governor of Kano State, and Basiru, an accomplished law professional and spokesman of the Senate, both bring significant experience to their proposed roles.
Yet, the controversy surrounding their selection underscores deeper tensions within the APC as the party grapples with its leadership and constitutional commitments.
