'Those nursing presidential ambition or whose political life felt threatened by the continued stay of Oshiomhole are Governors Atiku Bagudu; Kayode Fayemi; Rotimi Akeredolu; Yahaya Bello; Nasiru el-Rufai; Abubakar Badaru; Simon Lalong, among others.'
On Thursday, a portentous National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress was held in the Federal Executive Council chamber of the Presidential Villa leaving in its wake some controversies. In this piece,Managing Editor, Northern Operation, revisits the pre-meeting intrigues, the drama at the session and the post-NEC politics.
A top source said: “There was a plot before plot in the Villa by some governors to regain the control of the party and shape the direction of 2023 politics in APC. Some of these forces actually worked in connivance with some kitchen cabinet members and some strategic persons closer to the President. They formed a ring around the Villa to shut out pro-Oshiomhole colleagues.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, felt worried and he had to revalidate a previous warning. He said: “It is of common knowledge that elections will be held in some states in Nigeria in the nearest future. Polarization of the NWC. Out of 20 members, 17 were on one side, two , Comrade Mustapha Salihu, moved decisively against Oshiomhole and one was floating in anticipation of a slip which could make him the National Chairman of the party,
Power shift. Since it is inevitable for power to shift to the South in 2023, some Northern elements are still routing for a President from the North because of alleged inherent 12million votes of Buhari in the region. They said with 25 per cent votes in at least 24 states, any political leader from the North can win a presidential election.
The source said: “We were shocked that there was no agenda. All the decisions purportedly agreed at the NEC session were from a meeting held on Wednesday by some anti-Oshiomhole governors and others. “Giadom later left. Even after the NEC Meeting, he joined Governors Bagudu and Buni to brief the press but he could not be part of the session because he had no locus again. He later left the briefing hall with his personal assistant.”For the second time in about six months, Buhari used the NEC session to warn about the path of self-destruct which APC was treading. He announced the following steps which he felt could restore sanity.
“The issues currently confronting our party at this time are such that should worry every party member. At the moment, our great party is faced with internal wrangling; there are on-going litigations amongst some party members and we cannot clearly ascertain the status of certain National Working Committee members.
Also, the President gave much latitude to anti-Oshiomhole governors without hearing from pro-Oshiomhole governors who were shielded or frustrated from seeing him. He might not know what was going on behind the curtains but since APC was an amalgam of parties, some leaders of the party ought to have been consulted before arriving at any decision. A Senator said: “The President should realise that APC stands on a tripod, we all have a stake. Consultations should be broadminded.
“The same provision of the Constitution makes it compulsory for a notice of a minimum of 14 days in respect of statutory quarterly meetings and 7 days in respect of emergency meetings. The 17 members of the NWC who are part of this press statement, are Ntufam Hilliard Etagbo Eta , Hon. Inuwa Abdulkadir , and Pastor Bankole Oluwajana , Alh. Ahmed Suleiman Wambai , Hon. Emma Eneukwu , Hon. Adamu Fanda , Hon. Ibrahim Masari , Hon. Paul Chukwuma , Emma Ibediro Esq , Hon. Sadiq Abubakar , Haj. Salamatu Bawa Umar-Eluma , Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, Misbahu Lawan Didi , Wogu Boms Esq , Babatunde Ogala , Hon. Lanre Isa-Onilu and Arc. Waziri Bulama .
“We believe all the processes for the convocation of NEC meeting have not been followed. And the APC Constitution has no provision for fiat. “Imagine a ruling party being torn apart by different court rulings which emanated from selfish pursuits. It would be more disastrous for APC if moral persuasion does not take the centre stage. Left to Buhari, he would have allowed the law to take its full course but there may be no APC at the end of the day.
But the greatest outcome of the NEC meeting was the directive to withdraw all litigations in court. The APC cases have messed up the Judiciary such that some judges are regretting their rulings. The Chief Judge of the High Court of Justice of the FCT, Justice Ishaq Bello warned judges in the jurisdiction to be wary of political cases. He said: “Therefore, be wary of coming up with application when it comes to pragmatic politics because we are not going to accede to that.
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