By Abba Dukawa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) crises started immediately in 2015 when they were to elected by the leadership of the National Assembly as against what used to be the tradition of the ruling party and Mr. President to have a preferred choice of who became the Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives.
As result for struggle for the control of House leadership, the crisis had affected basic tools and ingredients for good governance like the national budget, appointment of key government officers, legislations, policy initiative and general running of government. That remained history.
Since then, the party engulfed from one feud to other all in an effort by a segment of stakeholders to take the control of party structure; the crisis had grown to pitiable and dirty politics resulting in booting out two Party National Working Committees. Former National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
Some argued that Chief John Odigie-Oyegun was responsible for the crisis in the National Assembly for sending a letter directing the Senate President and House Speaker on who to choose as principal officers.
Other stakeholders saw him as being responsible for the stalemate in their party, which has been crisis ridden at that time. While other segment of party stakeholders accused him of highhandedness, betrayal fraud and also a mole in the party.
After the lingering crisis, APC organized a mini National Convention, where former National Working Committee led by Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomole was brought in but the honeymooned did not last as he “narrowed the party to himself” unlike his predecessor who not only upstaged the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the presidential race, he also won 19 of the 28 governorship positions in the 2015 general elections.
Before the general elections in 2019, there were series of serious intra – party squabbles. Instead of the party to became more stronger, it lost six states to PDP – Zamfara, Adamawa, Bauchi, Sokoto, Oyo, and Benue. APC was also disqualified from participating in the election, due to the failure of the party’s leadership to do the needful in line with electoral act of conducting internal primary election to choose its flagbearer in Rivers state.
Oshiomole’s led NWC badly managed governorship election victory in Bayelsa state.
In 2020, the party was thrown into a serious political turmoil again over who to takes over as Acting National Chairman, after the Appeal Court judgement, APC National Working Committee (NWC) led by Adams Oshiomhole. This turmoil paved way for emergence of APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor Mala Buni.
The formations of the CECPC turn out to be good in healing the wounds of party members by repositioning and saved APC from implosion.
Again, APC contested two gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states.
CECPC leadership reconciled all the governorship aspirants in Ondo state for the successful re-election of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as recently affirmed by the supreme Court. But in Edo state the caretaker committee failed to reconciled Adams Oshiomole, Godwin Obaseki and other stakeholders, the governor defected to PDP and won his re-election.
As stabilizing caretaker committee, Governor Hon. Buni met all national leaders and other party stakeholders across the country in order to accommodate all interests. Party members expressed hope that peace would be restored to the party after the protracted leadership crisis.
CECPC works yield positive results by wooing in PDP governors of Ebonyi, Cross River and Zamfara states.
Buni’s led committee also wooed Leader of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organization, former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Lt. Gen. Ihejirika joined APC.
Others are two former Speakers of House of Representatives – Yakubu Dogara and Dimeji Bankole, Barnabas Gemade, former PDP National Chairman.
Recently Governor Mai Mala Buni formally received members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Senator Joy Emordi, who defected to the ruling APC. All these success stories of CECPC are commendable.
There is no doubt the committee has made great achievements and rescued the party from an imminent collapse.
On the recent crisis that engulfed the party was the Supreme Court judgment on APC’s governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state and his challenger, Eyitayo Jegede of PDP over the former’s nomination.
The supreme court judgement was being misinterpreted by elements in the party who are bent on satisfying their political interests.
Some party members have expressed divergent views about the judgment, Mr Festus Keyamo believes that the party needs to be careful not to have a repeat of the Zamfara scenario when the party lost the entire seat it won in the last general elections to the PDP. While the party’s lead counsel, Niyi Akintola (SAN) and Attorney General of the federation, Abubakar Malami believes that the judgment of the apex court will have no bearing on the party because “it is a minority judgment.”
Following the Supreme Court’s judgement, which have dealt conclusively with legality of the APC Caretaker composition and all its decisions. Is not in conflict with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is consistent with provisions of the Constitution of the APC. Therefore, Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) passed a vote of confidence on the APC CECPC led by Governor, Mai Mala Buni
It is an understatement to say, APC caretaker committee had charted a new course with renewed commitments and dedication for the party to be stronger with the emblem of internal democracy and mutual understanding among leaders and other stakeholders.
At this moment there is need for stakeholders and members at all levels to remain resolute and continue to support APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee led by Governor Mala Buni.
Dukawa writes in from Kano abbahydukawa@gmail.com
