Yinka Olukoya, Biola Azeez, Isaac Shobayo, Yomi Ayeleso, Onyema Godwin, Adelowo Oladipo, Olakunle Moruf, Subair Mohammed, Attahiru Ahmed Gusau, INIOBONG EKPONTA examine the prevailing situation is state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as it concludes plans to conduct state congresses across the country on Saturday.
As members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) step out on Saturday, for its state congress, their likely preoccupation will be how to achieve relative peace and stability towards retaining power in 2023. The ruling party has battled simmering internal conflict across board, necessitating series of troubleshooting interventions, including the setting up of reconciliation committees.
The festering crises are also underscored by the stalemate in many states over the outcomes of the ward and local government congresses conducted so far. The situation appears to have defied the logic behind the different appeal committees set up by APC top echelon to treat petitions and complaints arising from the conduct of those congresses. The attendant uproar, threats and counter-threats persist, just as parallel structures subsist in some states as the APC gears up for Saturday’s state congress.
Governors, ministers, lawmakers, among other influential stakeholders are main at loggerheads over the disputed process, procedure and manner the past exercises held. And the leadership of the party seems overwhelmed by the avalanche of challenges trailing the intraparty elections meant to constitute executives at different layers in the political space in preparation for the general election and in line with provisions of APC Constitution. States where the conflicts are most pronounced include Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Imo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Niger, Bauchi, Adamawa, Kwara, Enugu, Sokoto, Ebonyi and Cross River with the members polarised in a manner of Abuja politicians versus home-based politicians in one hand.
In the other, it a war between the members of the national organ of the party and a group of other party stalwarts who believe sidelined. The fight also involve those strongly opposed to perceived overbearing influence and authority of governors in the running of the affairs of the APC such that their caucus seems to possess the knife and the cake, whereas the latter was jointly baked through the dint of hard work and sacrifice by majority of party members at the grassroots. The return of a national leader of the APC after weeks of medical attention abroad is instructive. His absence raised the decibels of discordant tunes over the state of affairs in Lagos APC. A couple of splinter groups that emerged recently have engaged mainstream APC in open altercations, threatening fire and brimstone over their demand for inclusiveness as oppose to the current perceived marginalisation in the scheme of things. In Oyo, the various camps struggling for the soul of APC remain adamant on their disparate positions, just as the belligerent forces loyal to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and the allies of his successor, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola would not shift ground over the battle to control the structure of the party ahead of 2023.
Governor Hope Uzodimma and his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha remain locked in a fratricidal battle for APC machinery in Imo, while the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, APC intern national secretary, Senator John Udoedehe and other high profile members of the party from Akwa Ibom are at dagger’s drawn over APC structures in the state.The scenario in Oyo APC is also foggy, as the various groups are involved in claims and counter-claims over development and issues within the party dating back to its loss of power in the state in 2019. Rivers APC is still neck deep in belligerence among its influential members that culminated in the wholesale loss of APC influence in the state in the last general election. A similar scenario persists in Bauchi and Zamfara where the lack of compromise by the major power brokers and blocs caused APC victories at the 2019 poll. Other APC stakeholders in Niger State are giving the state governor a ‘good fight ‘over who should control the structure of the party and the larger political space. Led by governorship hopefuls, the aggrieved party members are determined to pull the rug off the feet of the governor, ostensibly due to his perceived skewed leadership style. Governor Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman and the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed maintain APC parallel structures in Kwara State, with no visible sign of compromise with 48 hours to state congress across the country.
Lagos
In Lagos, there are supposed four factions within the ruling APC in the state in the quest to alter the status quo ante, each of the camps fielding candidate for the chairmanship position of the party. While a handful of the aspirants are pure-bred grass-roots politicians, others are dark horses who see the congress as an avenue to firm up their dying political careers. From all indications, the congress, might go the way of the ward and local government congresses where APC national secretariat adopted consensus method. The incumbent chairman of APC, Honourable Tunde Balogun was elected in May 2018 to run the affairs of the party for three years. One of his challengers is Hpnourable Beatrice Omotayo Tugbobo, a member of the AAMCO group led by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Similarly, Dr Abdul Azeez Adeniran, leads group called Lagos4Lagos that is seeking a new dawn in Lagos APC. For October 16 state congress, Lagos4Lagos Movement recently unveiled 36-member executive led by its chairmanship candidate, Prince Sunday Ajayi, to participate in the exercise. Honourable Fouad Oki, a former vice-chairman of APC in the state ad now a factional chairman of the Democrat, Lagos APC caucus, is also a chairmanship aspirant, Oki is seen as a lone voice in his quest for the chairmanship seat as his factions, The Democrat and The Collectives are perceived to exist only on paper. Like the Lagos4Lagos Movement, Oki’s Democrat does not enjoy the support of Asiwaju Tinubu, Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC).
Ekiti
Aggrieved leaders in Ekiti State said they would not take part in the process but proceed with court case instituted over the conduct of the ward and local government congresses. The group, however, said that there is possibility of having their state executives of the party emerging on Saturday, to represent the faction of the party. The leaders under the auspices of Stakeholders Forum had filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti to among others challenge the conduct of the congresses and prayed the court to set aside the process. The secretary of the group, Mr Femi Adeleye lamented that respondents in the suit were evading service but revealed that the court under Justice Babs Kuewumi had ordered substituted service on the respondents for a speedy trial. Adeleye who said that the group was keeping its plans ahead of Saturday, said the likelihood of a parallel state congress could not be ruled out. Adeleye disclosed that all efforts by the group to put forward their grievances through the various appeal committees were not successful, adding that the group hoped the newly inaugurated reconciliation committee under the chairmanship of former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu would act as appropriate.
Niger
A number of contestants in Niger State allegedly to have uncovered plots by some party stalwarts to impose their candidates at the congress. The chairman of the Forum for Foundation Members of APC in the state, Mohammed Abubakar Katcha urged party members to respect the internal ideology of the party to ensure peace in the party. He spoke to journalists in Minna when he received aggrieved contestants, urging all those that felt shortchanged and had purchased forms to follow due process. “The problem they bring to me according to them, is that screening will not take place; that they will be disqualified from contesting despite that they bought forms to contest while the state’s leadership of the party wants to go ahead with consensus arrangement.” he stated. The zonal chairmanship contestant in Niger South districts, (Zone A) Muhammad Sidi Saba, who disagreed with the consensus arrangement, insisted on a level-playing field for all contestants, calling on the National Working Committee of the party not to allow selfish leaders to hijack the congress.. Speaking on behalf of the Forum’s secretary, Mrr Lakpene Yusuf Bida, urged APC national secretariat, to as a matter of urgency, release the list of delegates for the congress to guarantee transparency. “We observed conspiracy between party officials to manipulate the state congress in favour of some selected candidates on the basis of illegal micro zoning; we are opposed to imposition of party officials.” At least no fewer than about 26 party members who purchased forms of various positions to contest in the forthcoming APC state congress attended the meeting to ensure peace, justice and fair play for all members.
Ogun
It is not unlikely that the Ogun State chapter of APC will hold a parallel state congress on Saturday. The faction loyal to a former governor of the State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, conducted ward and local congresses, despite warning against parallel congresses.It is not certain whether the camps close to Amosun and the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, will work together.All is not well within the fold in the state.However, the Appeal Committees empowered to look into some of the issues raised by some aggrieved members were critically looked with an appeal that all should close ranks in the interest of the party.
Rivers
Ahead of the weekend congresses, the party in Rivers has been, again left divided, depleted by defections and leaving most observers confused as to what to expect from the party.The divisions that have plagued the party from similar congresses in 2018, which robbed them the chance of participation in the 2019 elections, are still very much with the party. Less than three weeks ago a prominent figure in the party, Ogbonna Nwuke, its former spokesman led hundreds of his supporters from his Etche/Omuma Constituency to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party, throwing the APC into confusion.But in response to enquiries about the state of preparedness of the party for the congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, an ardent supporter of the leader of the APC in Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, assured that the party was prepared for a successful outing come Saturday.He said the party was well prepared for the congress.”Most of those alleged to have defected were not members of APC as they failed to revalidate their membership of the party. For Nwuke, he defected for reasons only known to him and have nothing to do with the Congress coming up by Saturday,” Eze claimed.
Sokoto
An APC chieftain in Sokoto State, Honourable Bello Danchadi, said members of the party in the state remain one big family. Danchadi, who is also the acting public secretary of the party in the state, He reassured that just like the members did in the ward and local government congresses, they have agreed on a consensus arrangement in the state congress on October 16. However, a leader of a group within the party, Abdullahi Balarabe Salame is said not to be on the same page with a former governor of the state and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aliyu Wamakko. Salame, who is also a member of the House of Representatives representing, Illela/Gwadabwa federal constituency, had in the ward and local government congresses, organised a parallel exercise. The three-term lawmaker, who is a former speaker of the state Assembly and former acting governor of the state is believe to be nursing a governorship ambition.
Kwara
The general view being expressed by many in Kwara State is that it might require a state party chairman acceptable by all tendencies which formed the APC to consolidate presence in power in the state. According to the situation on ground, there might be parallel state congresses with each side producing separate leaders. The party that has been embroiled in internal crisis right from the onset of the present administration after clinching the power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, is being threatened by differences among leaders of the tendencies that came together to form an alliance prior 2019 general election. So far, APC congresses designed to elect officials of the party from ward, local government and to the state level have been bedevilled by parallel congresses.
While the two factions trade words and claim that they are the authentic sides, they also say that the national leadership would do nothing but accept their lists of party officials that emerged from the separate congresses, even as factions accused national leadership of folding its arms.
However, the chairman of the APC in the state, Abdulahi Samari, believes the crisis among some members of the party is a family affair, adding that every issue would be resolved amicably. But, a faction of the APC in the state loyal to the Information and Culture minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had called on the national leadership of the party to intervene in the intraparty feud rocking the state chapter of the party.
Plateau
Those contesting for the chairmanship and other positions in the party in Plateau State are looking towards the direction of Governor Simon Lalong for endorsement. From all indications, the chairmanship in Plateau APC is zoned to the Plateau North. as most of the contenders are from the zone. Findings revealed that none of them is independent to run the race without seeking the endorsement of the governor who is perceived to have considerable influence over the structures of the party based on what transpired during the ward and local government congresses. There are strong indications that other gladiators in the party such as the deputy speaker House of Representatives, Honourable. Idris Wase and Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen seem to have aligned themselves with the governor in the scheme for the chairmanship of the party. Though there are dissenting voices, they are not loud enough to make an impact. However, it was learnt that as of press time, none of the contestants has purchased forms to contest the election on Saturday. A source claimed the governor gave an instruction to this effect to pave way for a consensus candidate ahead of the congress in tandem with the ward and local government congresses
Zamfara
The Zamfara APC has not prepared for Saturday’s state congress, due to ongoing revalidation of membership. It became, necessary following the defection of Governor Bello Matawalle to the party. APC national caretaker committee chairman, Governor Mai mala Buni of Yobe State had announced the dissolution of all executives from wards, local government and state, a move that was stoutly resisted by the existing executive members. It led to the emergence of two factions of the party with separate secretariats in the state.
Akwa Ibom
Ahead of Saturday congress, the factional leadership loyal to the National Care-taker and Congress Extraordinary Planning Committee (NCCEPC), Senator John Udoedehe, ruled out further feuds during the contest. The state publicity secretary, Nkereuwem Enyongekere, in a statement on behalf of the state Care-taker Chairman, Dr. Ita Udosen, said the exercise would be conducted on the basis of delegates. Submission of forms ended on Tuesday, while screening of aspirants holds today, Wednesday, and the Enyongekere, said the venue of the contest would be made known 24-hours to the poll. In the same vein, the leader of the Elders’ Forum (EF) of the party and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Group Capt. Sam Ewang (retd), said the party had put all contending issues behind, in order to reclaim the party for victory in 2023. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, said there was no going back in ensuring the party was harmonized and put in good stead.
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