- The roles Uzodimma, Ribadu played – Insiders
- NEC meeting postponed indefinitely
Some top stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress have revealed the real reasons Abdullahi Adamu bowed to pressure and resigned as the National Chairman of the ruling party.
A competent APC source told The Point that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu was one of the people who told Adamu to resign because he had become a liability to the party and the country.
He was said to have also been forced to step down as the party chairman after the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma, told him that if he didn’t resign, he would be removed at the next NEC meeting.
The National Secretary of the party, Iyiola Omisore, has also been officially replaced with the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Festus Fuanter.
Both Adamu and Omisore were stalwarts of the People’s Democratic Party before crossing over to the APC.
The journey to the new order started at about 10:40 am on Monday when the Deputy National Chairman, Abubakar Kyari, led a team of seven other members of the NWC to a meeting in his office.
It was gathered that Kyari’s car was parked in the slot reserved for the national chairman.
Omisore, who arrived at the national secretariat at about 11:20am, was said to have been prevented from attending the NWC meeting that was ongoing.
The former secretary who left the secretariat as soon as he came in, said he was going to meet Adamu, according to reports, noting that he did not know why the former Nasarawa State governor was not at the secretariat.
Some of the NWC members at the meeting with Kyari included the Deputy National Chairman, (South) Emma Enukwu; National Vice Chairman (North West), Salihu Lukman; National Vice Chairman (North East), Salihu Mustapha; National Vice Chairman (North Central), Muazu Bawa; National Vice Chairman (South West), Issac Kekemeke; National Vice Chairman (South East), Ejoroma Arodiogu and the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter.
There was heavy security around the Blantyre Street APC national secretariat in Wuse II, Abuja, as motorists were subjected to security checks, while passers-by were also stopped at random for questioning.
Fuanter, who hails from Plateau State, officially assumed his new position as the acting national secretary on Monday.
The announcement was made by Kyari, shortly after the crucial meeting of the NWC.
Addressing journalists, Kyari confirmed that both Omisore and Adamu, were no longer part of the APC leadership.
“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,” he said.
Kyari said that according to the Constitution of the APC, he was now the acting national chairman of the party.
“My humble self as the Deputy National Chairman (North) will assume the office of the Acting National Chairman. Consequently, the Deputy National Secretary, Barrister Festus Fuanter, will now assume the office of Acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress,” he stated.
Kyari also disclosed that the proposed National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings slated for July 18 and 19 had 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 near future,” he said.
When quizzed on what led to their resignation, the acting chairman declined to give further information, saying the development would be disclosed at a future date.
He also dismissed speculation that the party might send operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after both Adamu and Omisore.
“There are no allegations against them. Both of them resigned voluntarily and that is what is available at this moment. The details of their resignation will be made known to you in the nearest future,” he said.
On how the new APC leadership hopes to address the plethora of issues raised by the National Vice Chairman for North West, Salihu Lukman, Kyari promised that the matter would be addressed.
“Everybody has his own style of administration and I think this present set of NWC will be relying on what the constitution says,” he noted.
According to the party’s constitution, the position of the chairman will remain in the North and the most senior NWC member from the North naturally steps in with the exit of Adamu.
According to a source, Adamu resigned to save himself from being removed from office.
A source who was privy to the details of the resignation told The Point that Adamu was forced out over many issues, which included his non-support for President Tinubu and the party and some controversial moves allegedly being made even after the swearing in of the new administration.
According to the source, since President Tinubu assumed office, some leaders within the party have been calling for Adamu’s resignation, threatening to remove him at the next NEC meeting if he failed to resign.
The party’s NEC meeting was initially billed to hold July 10 and 11 but was postponed to Tuesday and Wednesday this week, owing to the president’s international engagements.
Those who called for Adamu’s resignation accused him of working against the President during the party’s presidential primaries, publicly supporting former Senate President Ahmad Lawan and failing to fully back Tinubu even after securing the party’s ticket.
Adamu was also accused of mismanaging the party’s funds.
APC chieftains who preferred secrecy told The Point on Monday that Adamu’s removal was truly a carry-over of the rift between him and President Tinubu since the 2022 presidential primary of the party during which Adamu supported Lawan for the party’s ticket in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
Ahead of the APC presidential primary in June 2022, Tinubu had complained bitterly that he was being betrayed despite the fact that a gentleman’s agreement was sealed in 2015 for him to succeed former President Muhammadu Buhari.
His outburst, popularly known as “emi l’okan” (it’s my turn), was said to have enraged Adamu who threatened that the party would “discipline” him (Tinubu).
In the week of the primary, Adamu informed NWC members that Lawan, then Senate President, was Buhari’s preferred presidential candidate.
The move was met with protests and condemnation from some quarters, but Adamu stood his ground.
Lawan, a latecomer to the race, lost the presidential primary, coming last with 38 votes against Tinubu’s 371.
Speaking after he was announced as the winner of the presidential primary by Atiku Bagudu, chairman of the election committee, Tinubu said he would have been upset with Lawan, but that he would leave the then senate president to “lick his wounds”.
“To you the legislator, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, I would have been a little upset because you competed with me. But that is over now, since you can easily lick your wounds.
“It doesn’t take away from thanking you for the past cooperation, collaboration and cool headedness to build our country. You have helped to steer the ship of this nation in the right direction and with your team in the Senate, history is written and will be kind to you,” Tinubu had said.
Tinubu would go on to lose the presidential election in Nasarawa State, where Adamu was governor from 1999 to 2007.
Adamu had lost the presidential election in the Angwarimi Ward, GRA A1, LERCEST Office in Keffi, Nasarawa State to the Labour Party.
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, won the unit with 132 votes, while the APC received 85 votes for second place.
Also, Adamu lost his polling unit to the PDP in the governorship and House of Assembly elections held on March 18 in Nasarawa State.
The PDP got 159 votes, while APC polled 129 votes.
The APC also lost the House of Assembly poll in the former APC leader’s polling unit to PDP.
The PDP polled 133 votes against APC’s 108, while Governor Adullahi Sule won his polling unit with a landslide.
Adamu had also lost his senatorial district to Ahmed Wadada of the SDP in the National Assembly.
“It was inevitable that Adamu would bite the dust. When the 10th National Assembly was about to be inaugurated, it was the APC leadership that was supposed to work behind the scenes for the leadership election. Adamu and Omisore were aloof. In fact, it was a known fact that Adamu was supporting Abdulaziz Yari.
“As if that was not enough, when the committee positions were announced, Adamu openly dissociated himself from the list. He had it coming,” an enraged NWC member said.
