APC Convention: How Buhari’s last minute moves saved party from implosion

•  Chieftains task Adamu on quality, equitable leadership

•  President ‘ll remain party compass beyond 2023

• Journey of party rebirth begins – Gbajabiamila

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Christina Ekpa

President Muhammadu Buhari, at the last minutes to All Progressive Congress (APC) National Convention, made frantic efforts to impress on the six chairman aspirants, reasons why they should step down for former Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, who eventually emerged chairman of the party through consensus.

According to a top party source, less than twenty four hours to the National Convention, the six aspirants were still resolute to contest the election to occupy the national chairman of the party.

Our correspondent gathered that it was through the governors in the North Central that the President was able to break the logjam. Buhari reportedly directed the Governors of the North Central States, who were backing their respective chairman aspirants to step down for his anointed candidate, Abdullahi Adamu.

According to our source, the hardest nut to crack in the last minute political horse trading was how to secure an amicable deal between Abdullahi Adamu and Tanko Al-Makura. This is predominantly because the latter repeatedly cited his loyalty to APC since his foray into politics, in addition to his appeal to the majority of the APC Governors.

It was learnt that this dilemma took the intervention of the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who unavoidably shifted his support away from Al-Makura to Adamu, thus, eventually forcing him (Al-Makura) to step down.

Recall that initially after it was leaked that Senator Abdullahi Adamu is President Buhari’s preferred candidate, the Presidency denied such claims later, over fears that some of the Governors felt aggrieved and not consulted by the President.

At this point, our source said, he would have withdrawn his support for Adamu, but was convinced by his kitchen cabinet members that the former two term Nasarawa Governor and three term senator is the best hand that can bring stability in the ruling party, which is already being threatened by different crises and internal wrangling.

He was also advised on the danger of not being stiff in backing his preferred candidate, as this could erode the legacies he had left in governance, even as it puts the survival of the ruling party in danger of extinction.

At this point, President Buhari could no longer play hide and seek, hence he came out in full force to convince the Governors why they must adopt his anointed candidate to assume the leadership of the ruling APC.

Peoples Daily learnt that after an extensive meeting with the aspirants, most of who cited the need to consult with their Governors before taking decision, the President proceeded to meet with Governors of the North Central, hence the consensus and peaceful outcome of the Party’s National Convention witnessed yesterday.

However, barring such interventions, the contest would have been a free for all, which in most observers say would have forced some of the contestants who are most likely going to be aggrieved, to seek shelter elsewhere.

From antecedent, open contest in primary elections usually results in bad blood among contestants, which is usually difficult to handle. This is apparently why President Buhari had to go out of his usual way to appeal and persuade the aspirants to adopt senator Adamu as APC consensus candidate for the party chairman.

Meanwhile, speaking before the consensus was announced yesterday at Eagle Square, Buhari called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to remain united and strong and also support the incoming leadership of the party.

“This Convention is coming at a crucial time when we prepare for another round of a general election. Therefore, the need to remain strong and united for the Party to exploit the rich and abundant potentials at its disposal cannot be overemphasized. We appreciate the right to hold different opinions and aspirations, however, such differences must not be to the detriment of the Party.

“l passionately appeal to you all to support the incoming National Working Committee (NWC) to promote unity and avoid sentiments that are capable of causing disaffection and disunity. For those aspiring for party and public offices, your failure to realize such aspirations for Party offices or to fly the Party’s flag, should not be a basis for a campaign of calumny against the party. We should have the spirit of sportsmanship and always support the party to succeed.”

•Lawan: Buhari ‘ll remain the compass of APC beyond 2023

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to provide leadership to the All Progressives Congress (APC) beyond 2023 after his exit from office.

Lawan stated this in his remarks at the National Convention of the ruling party which held at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Saturday.

According to him, President Buhari’s ability to sustain unity within the party against all odds, positions him favorably as the “compass” needed to give direction to the party at all times.

Lawan said, “Your Excellency, Mr. President, we can compare favorably well with any other party across the world. This is because you have provided the leadership that we need.

“Let me be explicit, you will not be on the ballot in 2023, but you will remain the leading light and moral compass of APC even after your tenure finishes.

“And, therefore, Mr. President, I’m sorry, you will have little rest, because we will never allow you to go away.”

•Journey to build new APC begins – Gbajabiamile

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Femi Gbajabiamile has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Republic of Nigeria best days are ahead, even as he stressed that the party, like Nigeria, is going through a process of rebirth.

Speaking at the party convention, Gbajabiamila said the men in the APC have power and opportunity to build a political party that can stand the test of time and lead the country to a future of abiding peace and universal prosperity.

He equally stressed that the Party answered that call and must now work together to make themselves worthy, and write their names, each and together, in the good book of history for all generations to come.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a triumph of vision over cynicism and principled action over apathy. As it was in the beginning, so it remains today. Together, we are a living monument to the principle that when patriots stand together in a righteous cause, God is ready to bless the works of their hands. And from our union of progressives has emerged substantive, long-lasting change that will stand to the benefit of our country for years to come.

“I believe that for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, our best days are ahead of us. Our party, like our country, is going through a process of rebirth. We have the power and opportunity to build a political party that can stand the test of time and lead our country to a future of abiding peace and universal prosperity. We have answered that call and must now work together to make ourselves worthy, and by so doing, write our names, each and together, in the good book of history for all generations to come.

•Provide quality, equitable leadership – Sen. Bamidele task Adamu

Meanwhile, the Senator representing Ekiti Central in the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that it took the stakeholders in the ruling APC a long while to arrive at a consensus candidate for the chairmanship of the party.

Recalled that 6 aspirants who got the party chairmanship forms Saturday afternoon stepped down for Senator Abdullahi Adamu who was also President Muhammadu Buhari’s annointed candidate

Speaking at Eagles Square, the venue of the national convention of the party, Bamidele charged Adamu to evolve quality and equitable leadership for the party.

He said that the aspirants were not pressured to withdraw from the race, saying it was an appeal.

He added that the situation would have nosedived, were the aspirants not allowed to participate in the process of obtaining their nomination forms and campaigning.

He said: “l think it was a wonderful thing for several aspirants to have come out to contest for the chairmanship of the party, but I think it is a better deal that the aspirants who have demonstrated capacity to reconcile. They have shown that it is not a desperate situation and our hope and prayer is that the consensus candidate, His Excellency, Senator Abdullahi Adamu will be able to provide the much needed and anticipated quality leadership that we need to move the party forward.

“It was to the extent that nobody was forced to withdraw. All the 6 other aspirants have consented in writing to the consensus arrangement. I think it is a step ahead.

“It was an appeal. There was no pressure on anybody. It was an appeal, an appeal that took a while. The President had been on this in the last 5 weeks even before he traveled.

“It would have been worse if they didn’t allow them to obtain the form. They all paid. They had the opportunity to go round the country to campaign and it would have been bad if they did not have the opportunity of contesting”, he said.

Nevertheless, after the Convention, while Abdullahi Adamu, emerged as chairman through consensus, senator Abba Kyari emerged as Deputy National Chairman North, after defeating Sunny Moniedafe, and others, just as Emmanuel Eneukwu, former national publicity Secretary of defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) emerged as consensus Deputy National Chairman South after defeating former Senate President, Ken Nnamani.

Also, among others, while former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary, who latter defected to APC, emerged the consensus National Secretary of APC, after defeating former Minister of Communications, Adebayor Shittu, and others.

Also Ahmad Usman Elgwanzu, emerged the National Legal Adviser through consensus, while Bashir Usman emerged through consensus as the National Financial Secretary of the APC, among others.