The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing a brewing crisis over the selection of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, as the next national chairman of the party. The South West region has already staged its first protest against this decision.
Mallam Salihu Lukman, the National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the party, has issued a warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC governors against choosing Ganduje as a replacement for the former national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. Lukman believes that this decision is not only insensitive but also poses a threat to the party's zoning arrangement.
Reports indicate that President Tinubu and APC governors have already considered Ganduje for the position after the resignation of Adamu and the national secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
Lukman emphasizes the importance of a fair and just process for selecting new leaders, urging the party's governors to respect the party's constitutional order. He also calls upon President Tinubu to intervene and steer the party back to its founding vision of progressive politics, emphasizing the values of inclusion and justice.
Meanwhile, the APC governors have clarified that Adamu and Omisore resigned voluntarily and have not committed any wrongdoing during their tenure. The Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, assured that the party is united and there is no crisis. He expressed support for the resignations and stated that the party is working with President Tinubu to address the challenges faced by Nigerians, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy.
Uzodinma apologized for the recent increase in the pump price of petrol and promised that measures would be taken to address the hardships faced by citizens. He also refuted claims that the governors' silence on citizens' plight was due to their financial gains through the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
The APC governors are committed to working with the federal government to utilize the proceeds from the fuel subsidy removal in a manner that benefits the citizens and protects the economy. A National Executive Council meeting is scheduled to further discuss these matters.