After months of intense politicking and brick-batting among the party faithful, and uncertainties surrounding its national convention, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, at the Eagle Square in Abuja, elected new party officials that would pilot the affairs of the party till 2026, with Senator Abdullahi Adamu emerging as the new National Chairman.
Amidst funfair, thousands of party stalwarts from across the country, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members of the Governor Atiku Bagudu-led Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), and the leadership of the National Assembly, gathered for the much-anticipated convention.
In his address, President Muhammadu Buhari warned the new leadership of the party to guide against the imposition of candidates ahead of the 2023 polls. He also frowned at the menace of money politics, stressing the need for the entrenchment of internal democracy in the party.
Buhari tasked the Adamu-led NWC to ensure that popular candidates are given the opportunity to fly the party flag in the polls while expressing optimism that the newly signed Electoral Act would enhance the electioneering process in the country.
The President further charged party leaders not to indulge in backstabbing one another just as he thanked the Governor Abubakar Bagudu-led Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) for heeding his advice in resolving the leadership dispute that engulfed the party recently.
President Buhari expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Governor Buni-led caretaker committee, which has piloted the party for 18 months and for how the party membership has grown from 11 million to its current number of over 41. 5 million. He noted that the progress made so far confirmed that APC is the true Nigerian leading political party.
He enjoined the party faithful to take advantage of their numerical strength by participating in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise ahead of the 2023 polls.
The outgone caretaker chairman of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni, in a welcome address, applauded President Buhari, Vice President Osinbajo, governors of the party and other leaders for their support to his committee in rescuing the party from destruction through several reconciliatory initiatives.
Buni cited the membership registration and revalidation exercise, which swelled the party membership to 41million as against 11million membership strength before now, as some of the achievements recorded while he held sway.
He assured those who defected from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC including Governors Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Matawalle Bello of Zamfara State and Ben Ayade of Cross River State not to nurse any fear as they would triumph at the appellate court.
He called on aggrieved party stalwarts to bury their hatchets and work in concert towards ensuring the victory of the party in the oncoming general elections.
On his part, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said adversaries of the APC who do not wish the party well could now bury their heads in shame with the successful conduct of the national convention.
Besides Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who was unanimously endorsed via voice votes as party chairman, others that emerged via consensus arrangement include National Vice Chairman, North West, Salihu Lukman; National Vice Chairman, South East, Ijeoma Arodiogbu; National Vice Chairman, South-South, Victor Giadom; National Vice Chairman, South West, D. I Kekemeke; and National Legal Adviser, Ahmed El-Marzuk.
Others are Uguru Matthew Fore (National Treasurer); Bashir Usman Gumeel (National Financial Secretary); Suleiman Argungu (National Organising Secretary); Betta Edu (National Woman Leader); Abdullahi Dayo Isreal (National Youth Leader); Tolu Bankole (Special Person With Disability Leader); Ibrahim Salawu (Deputy National Leader); and Omoriege Osifo (Deputy National Treasurer).
Mr Emmanuel Eneukwu emerged as Deputy National Chairman, South; Abubakar Kyari holds the Deputy National Chairmanship North; while Senator Iyiola Omisore is National Secretary of the party and Nze Chidi Duru is Deputy National Organising Secretary. (Guardian)