Aggrieved NWC Members Welcome Adamu’s Removal, NEC Meeting Postponed Indefinitely.
The sudden resignation of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was spurred by the manner they handled the contentious audit report of the party’s account, Ejes Gist News Nigeria has learnt.
Read Also We were paid N50 million to kill Apostle Suleman – Suspect confesses
This is as indications emerged that President Bola Tinubu and governors elected on the platform of the party have started shopping for a replacement for the departed officials.
Adamu and Omisore handed over their resignation letters on Sunday amid controversies about the reason for their actions.
Pay attention to Nigerian Newspapers Headlines Today: 10 things you need to know this July 18, 2023
Their resignation letters were officially confirmed at an emergency meeting held by the National Working Committee at the party headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
The announcement was made by Adamu’s successor, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who has taken over the mantle of leadership in acting capacity in line with the party’s constitution.
Omisore’s attempt to join the NWC meeting was thwarted as he was prevented from accessing the venue.
Kyari, Funtua Take Temporary Charge, New Leaders to Emerge at Emergency Convention
Addressing journalists after the NWC parley, Kyari confirmed that Omisore has been officially replaced with the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Festus Fuanter.
Fuanter, who hails from Plateau State, officially assumed his new position as the acting national secretary on Monday.
Kyari stated, “We are here to address the happenings and recent developments regarding the party. The NWC wishes to inform you about the resignation of the National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu and that of the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
“According to the Constitution of the APC, it is now in tandem with my humble self as the Deputy National Chairman (North) to assume the office of the Acting National Chairman. Consequently too, the Deputy National Secretary, Barrister Festus Fuanter, will now assume the office of Acting National Secretary of All Progressives Congress.’’
Continuing, Kyari also used the opportunity to disclose that the proposed National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings slated for July 18 and 19 have been shelved.
“With the recent development, we implore everybody here that the proposed National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings slated for July 18 and 19, 2023 are hereby postponed. This postponement is not indefinite. A new date will be communicated in the nearest future,” he stated.
Replacement Plan Begins: Tinubu and APC Governors Seek Suitable Candidates
Meanwhile, following the exit of Adamu and Omisore, President Bola Tinubu and the APC governors have begun the process of getting suitable replacements for the duo.
Top party chieftains confirmed to The PUNCH on Monday that the APC governors and the President had begun wide consultations with a view to coming up with competent candidates that would replace the ousted party chieftains.
One of the APC governors told one of our correspondents that the govs elected on the party platform would come up with a list of possible candidates and consult with the President before reaching a final conclusion on the matter.
The governor also claimed that Adamu’s exit was not unconnected with his decision to openly criticise decisions made by the President and the party.
He said, “Tinubu’men have been watching Adamu since the conclusion of the poll but his cup became full when he criticised the recent emergence of the National Assembly principal officers. Remember that Adamu did not support the President during the primaries. He was the one that announced Senate President Lawan Ahmed as the party choice.
“He openly criticised decisions made by the president and the party. He did not initially support the emergence of Opeyemi Bamidele, Ali Ndume and others as principal officers. Also, when the Senate President, Speaker, Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker emerged, he spoke as if he didn’t agree with the zoning arrangement.”
On Omisore, the governor said, “Omisore fell out with Tinubu’s men during the Osun elections. They actually gave him the job because they felt he would deliver during the Osun governorship poll. Remember he was also accused by Lukman of mismanaging some party funds.’’
Meanwhile, a former National Legal Adviser of the APC, Muiz Banire, has said that disgruntled members of the NWC worried over the misappropriation, maladministration and highhandedness of Adamu, may have forced him to resign his position as the party’s National Chairman.
This was as he refuted claims that President Tinubu forced the national chairman to drop his resignation letter over his perceived rifts during the party primaries and general elections.
Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria revealed that the party constitution doesn’t have provisions on resignations, noting that the former national chairman didn’t resign voluntarily and was probably forced out of office.
Speaking on ChannelsTV PoliticsToday on Monday, the learned silk said, “Well certainly, the resignation of the national chairman is not ordinary, I believe that there must be some intrigues behind it, which is yet to be known to the people but am sure that the National Working Committee members are fully aware.
“The National Vice Chairman of North-West, Salihu Lukman has been raising many issues, particularly on the maladministration of the party and fund misappropriation. That could be part of it because I know that in the NWC, those are issues that usually come up or challenge the organ.
“So it is not unlikely as a result of those issues that have been in the public space for some time. It has reached its peak and could not be absolved again. I am not sure the resignation is voluntary, I might be wrong but I believe that the pressure of the other colleagues forced them to tender their resignation.’’
