There are significant signs that President Bola Tinubu’s reported pick of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman may not sit well with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
While some NWC members have argued that the story of Ganduje replacing Abdullahi Adamu is still speculative, others have slammed the President, asking that if he can’t fit him into his cabinet, why bring him to the party’s leadership?
Ganduje, who was scheduled to be appointed as a minister, was reportedly anointed by the President to lead the APC following Adamu’s abrupt resignation.
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On Monday, Nigerians were awakened to the news of Adamu’s resignation, which was followed by the resignation of the party’s national secretary, Iyiola Omisore.
According to this platform, despite the fact that the Progressives Governors’ Forum, the party’s governors’ umbrella organization, convened in Abuja on Thursday and apparently agreed to back Ganduje as Adamu’s successor, certain members of the APC NWC voted against it.
Yekini Nabena, the former Deputy Spokesman for the ruling party, expressed worries about the scandal in an interview with The Punch.
Nabena stated that the next national chairman would be elected through a mini-convention vote.
He said, “Ganduje cannot just be made as the next substantive chairman. Of course, there has to be a mini-convention. If that’s what the president wants, he has to talk to the governors. He will be voted for at the national convention of they want him there.
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“Definitely, his coming will divide the system (NWC) because if it is zoned to the North-Central, why take it out of the region? As I said before, and I am still saying it, you will spend all your time patching things if the foundation is wrong. And the house will keep getting cracks. Those are the cracks we are seeing.
“If you cannot accommodate somebody in your cabinet, why bring him into the party leadership? It will cause more problems. And if the party is not ready to work with you, they may decide not to call for a mini-convention. It is only the party chairman and secretary that have a right o call for a convention. Well, we are waiting for the appropriate time. As I said, once you get the foundation wrong, you will continue to fight to amend it.”
Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, National Vice Chairman for the South-East, also reacted to the story, saying it could be mere speculation.
Arodiogbu revealed that certain NWC members met briefly on Thursday, but the matter of Ganduje was not raised.
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“We are talking about three things here. The party leadership is different. The administration is different, and so also is the legislature. That should answer your question. I don’t think the party has taken any decision on the issue. That may come in the next couple of days,” she added.
Similarly, several APC NWC members who spoke on the condition of anonymity informed the platform that they were opposed to the governors’ intention to support Ganduje.
They insisted that the party’s national chairman’s position be assigned to the North-Central geographical zone. Ganduje comes from the geopolitical zone of the North-West.
One of the members said, “Our thinking is that some persons are trying to play Ganduje’s card into the mind of the president. The North-West should not be seen struggling for the party’s leadership after being compensated with the Speaker of House of Reps and Deputy Senate President. Why else should they be clamouring for the position of APC national chairman?”
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