Abdullahi Adamu was reportedly asked to resign as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday after a prolonged cold war with President Bola Tinubu.
The APC chairman, was advised to throw in the towel by Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo state and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
Iyiola Omisore, the APC national secretary, allegedly became incommunicado upon getting wind of the development.
Party sources told TheCable that Adamu and Omisore were to face a vote of no confidence by NWC members on Monday afternoon following which they would be sacked by the national executive committee (NEC), chaired by Tinubu, on Wednesday.
There has been a cold war between Tinubu and Adamu since the former governor of Nasarawa state was elected party chairman in March 2022.
But the “final straw”, according to insiders, was Adamu’s failure to account for the N32 billion raised by the party from the sale of forms for the 2023 general election.
“Only N7 billion is left in the account as we speak,” an NWC member told TheCable.
“Adamu and Omisore claimed the account has been audited, but we are not aware of when the auditors were appointed. How can NWC not be aware of the appointment? It is part of our responsibilities to appoint auditors.”
Sensing the move to remove him, Adamu had reportedly sought the support of the chairmen of the state chapters of the party but received a cold shoulder.
“By the APC constitution, the proceeds were supposed to be shared with the zonal, state and ward levels of the party, and they were not in the know. So there was no way they were going to support him,” another party insider told TheCable.
Before the N32 billion question became a bone of contention, Adamu’s exit appeared imminent.
While Tinubu supported Tanko Al Makura, also a former governor of Nasarawa state, for the position of national chairman, party leaders loyal to former President Muhammadu Buhari rooted for Adamu.
This was thought to be the first move to stop Tinubu from winning the party’s presidential ticket.
Ahead of the APC presidential primary in June 2022, Tinubu complained bitterly that he was being betrayed despite the fact that a gentleman’s agreement was sealed in 2015 for him to succeed Buhari.
His outburst, popularly known as “emi l’okan” (“it’s my turn”), enraged Adamu who threatened that the party would “discipline” him.
In the week of the primary, Adamu informed NWC members that Ahmad Lawan, then senate president, was Buhari’s preferred presidential candidate.
The move was met with protests and condemnation from some quarters, but he stood his ground.
Lawan, a latecomer to the race, lost the primary, coming last with 38 votes against Tinubu’s 1,271.
Tinubu would go on to lose the presidential election in Nasarawa state, where Adamu was governor from 1999 to 2007.
“It was inevitable that Adamu would bite the dust,” the NWC member told TheCable.
“When the 10th national assembly was about to be inaugurated, it was the APC leadership that was supposed to work behind the scene 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.”
According to TheCable, when the issue of the N32 billion was presented to Tinubu, he gave the go-ahead for the party to remove him “legally”.
Uzodinma approached Adamu on Sunday and asked him to do the “needful” but he was unable to reach Omisore.
APC Confirms Adamu’s Resignation As Party’s Chair, Kyari Takes Over
Meanwhile, the Deputy National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nze Duru, Monday confirmed the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
The party chieftain, however, added that he cannot confirm if the National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has resigned.
Duru disclosed on Monday while speaking with newsmen in his office, saying the Deputy National Chairman, North, Abubakar Kyari, will take over as the acting national chairman in line with the constitution of the party.
He stated: “One can confirm, yes, credible information that the chairman of the party has stepped down as the chairman of the party and meetings are currently ongoing.”
The party chieftain stressed that he expected Omisore to tender his resignation for the sake of the party.
Duru noted that he could not confirm if Adamu would be at the meeting, but stressed that the process leading to the transition was ongoing.
He added: “I do not have the information if the secretary has resigned. There is an expectation that he should and I also believe that being a seasoned politician who has played at the highest level, he will always act in the interest of the party.
“And to also assure Nigerians that APC is a very strong party built on a very strong foundation with credible system and leadership to continue to transition to the next phase in the life of the party.
“We are not expecting a caretaker committee and I did make the point that meetings are going on across all the caucuses of the party, the various leadership in the party. We know that our constitution has provided adequately, a transition process in the leadership of the party. The Deputy National Chairman, North will assume in an acting capacity the position of the chairman.
“It is also expected that the office of the secretary of the party will go across the other divide.”
Meanwhile, members of the NWC have arrived at the national secretariat of the party ahead of the NWC meeting scheduled.
Members of the NWC that have arrived for the meetings are the National Organising Secretary of the party, Suleiman Arugungu Duru; Disable Leader, Tolu Bankole; Deputy National Chairman, South, Emma Eneukwu; National Vice-Chairman, North-east, Salihu Mustapha; National Vice-Chairman, North-west, Dr. Salihu Lukman and Omisore, who arrived at the secretariat at exactly 11:20 a.m.
APC Postpones NEC, Caucus Meetings Indefinitely
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed the National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings indefinitely.
This followed the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the party’s national chairman.
The meetings were supposed to hold on July 10 and 11, but were earlier postponed for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the emergency meeting of the NWC, the APC acting national chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the meeting had been moved.
He also confirmed the resignation of the party’s national secretary, Iyiola Omisore.
