APC: Still Running from Its Shadows

In this report, Chuks Okocha writes that a combination of factors, including the search for consensus candidates for the National Working Committee of ruling APC is responsible for the delay in conducting its national convention

Last week saw the national secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudohehe write the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to inform the election management body of the decision to suspend the National Convention of the party indefinitely and within the next five days, retract the letter.

The two letters, to observers, sent wrong signals to the members. But underlying these conflicting reports is due to the fact that the ruling party is afraid of an elective national convention and wards as well as states congresses to elect officials to run the affairs of the party at all levels

Top sources that spoke to THISDAY on the delay in organising a national convention pointed to one thing, that the APC was still searching for an acceptable person to fit into the office of a national chairman. The party believes that an elective national convention could leave behind a sour taste that could affect the party in the 2023 general election.

It was learnt that top leaders of the party, believe that a trusted, young and loyal person should serve as the national chairman to avoid the near crisis that led to the ousting of Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman.

The former governors, who are also senators, it was argued, don’t have party loyalty as even out of office still operate as if they are still governors with their absolute disregard to feelings of members

Some members of the APC, like Senator Rochas Okorocha had said the only string holding the APC together is the person of President Muhammadu Buhari as the party would disintegrate after his administration.

A top source reaffirm this to THISDAY and argued that the ruling party didn’t want to conduct an elective convention, because of the fear of the outcome, which might polarise the party .

According to the source, “there are four prominent names contesting for the office of the national chairman, but the top leaders believe that the next chairman must a person that has the capacity to hold the party intact in a post Muhammadu Buhari era.

“There is the fear that without a consensus candidate as national chairman, that the outcome of the convention could leave the party in a position that would post a negative implication as the 2023 general election is fast approaching.

“We have aspirants like Senator Abdullahi Adamu, George Akume, Al Mankura and Saliu Mustapha, all of them from the north central zone”.

The source said that the national convention was crucial, because it would help decide the zoning of other offices both in the executive arm and sharing of offices in the National Assembly.

According to the source, the North Central zone seems to have been chosen, because it is a balancing zone to both the north and the southern part of the country. So, the presidential candidate can come from either side depending on the permutations.

It was further gathered in line with the just concluded APC National Youth Conference and in line with the Not Too Young To Run Act signed last year, the party wanted to assuage the youths by ensuring that younger persons are given opportunity in the administrative organ of the party.

It was gathered that the party was not comfortable with former governors as national chairmen, bearing in mind, their perceived authoritarian nature and the last experience with Adams Oshiomhole whose tenure nearly caused problems in the party.

THISDAY learnt that Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Al Mankura, George Akume and Danjuma Goje are either in their late sixties or seventies, and may not command the respect of the youths, who want to be in the saddle, whereas Saliu Mustapha is about 49 years old.

In the just concluded APC Youth Conference attended by the vice president. Professor Yemi Oshibajo and members of the Federal Executive Council, the conference conveyed the importance of utilising the voting strength of the youths.

At the conference, speaker after speaker underscored the importance of youths, as they claimed that 70 per cent of voters in the 2019 general election were young men and women.

Apart from the above, the source said the APC was waiting for the PDP to make a move over where its national chairman will come from.

He said, “We are not in rush. Politics is all about calculation. We must know where our major opponent, the PDP is going. You don’t expect us to shoot and box ourselves into a corner. Everything is planning with tactics.

Also, indications from some of the state chapters suggested that the party was still neck-deep in the crisis that led to the setting up of the caretaker committee.

“Many state chapters are currently enjoying the peace of the graveyard. For example, the Ekiti State chapter is enmeshed in a silent war between the governor’s faction and others leading to suspension and counter-suspension of members.

“Also, the Kwara State chapter is also enmeshed in a deep crisis.

The statement credited to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed that, there will be no congress until everybody is registered is a clear indication that all is not well with the chapter.

“With former Senate President, Bukola Saraki restrategising to stage a comeback, it is clear that the APC must put its house in order in Kwara, if it must retain its seat in the coming elections. The minister was also quoted as describing the state governor as a ‘one-chance governor’, the source said.

It was further gather that the APC leaders are now in a hide and seek with the PDP, especially, as regards the emergence of its key officers, like the national chairman and the zoning of the national executive party organs. It is generally believed that the outcome of the national convention will spell out clearly, where some key offices like the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will come from.