Politics

Compromise, endorsement as President Buhari’s candidate, Abdullahi Adamu emerges Chairman of Nigeria’s APC

Published

3 years ago

March 27, 2022

After months of back and forth, Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) held its national convention in Abuja on Saturday with Abdullahi Adamu emerging National Chairman and other leaders are chosen in different capacities to lead the party, particularly as the 2023 general elections in Nigeria draw closer.

Interestingly, the party once again chose the instrument of compromise, negotiation, and consensus to arrive at the desired end in its internal politicking as almost all of its leadership positions were filled by candidates stepping downing and groups’ endorsement with no actual party delegate elections.

Early on Saturday, after a series of persuasions and negotiations by governors and other leaders of the party, six other aspirants for the office of the national chairman; George Akume, Tanko Al-makura, Abdul’Aziz Yari, Sani Musa, Saliu Mustapha, and Etsu Muhammed reportedly agreed to step down for Abdullahi Adamu, who is President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice for the job.

With the convention now concluded, a unity list has of a National Working Committee for Nigeria’s ruling party, the APC has emerged.

According to the list, a former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu would be the national chairman of the party while former deputy governor of Osun State, Iyiola Omisore would serve as its national secretary. The new NWC members include:

Abdullahi Adamu – National Chairman
Abubakar Kyari – Deputy National Chairman (North)
Ema Enaukwu – Deputy National Chairman (South)
Otunba Omisore – National Secretary
Festus Fuanter – Deputy National Secretary
Muhazu Rijau – National Vice Chairman (North Central)
Mustapha Salihu – National Vice Chairman (North East)
Salihu Lukman – National Vice Chairman (North West)
Ijeoma Arodiogwu – National Vice Chairman (South East)
Victor Giadom – National Vice Chairman (South South)
Isaac Kekemeke – National Vice Chairman (South West)
Ahmed El-Marzuk – National Legal Adviser
Uguru Ofoke – National Treasurer
Bashir Gumel – National Financial Secretary
Suleiman Argungun – National Organising Secretary.

Also endorsed are; Ahmed El-Marzuk, National Legal Adviser; Beta Edu, National Woman Leader; Abdulahi Israel, National Youth Leader; Tolu Bankole, Special Persons Leader; Uguru Ofoke, National Treasurer; F.N Nwosu, National Welfare Secretary; Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary; Abubakar Maikafi, National Auditor; Bashir Gumel, National Financial Secretary; Suleiman Argungun, National Organising Secretary; Ibrahim Salawu, Deputy National Legal Adviser and Omorede Osifo, Deputy National Treasurer.

The emergence of the new National Working Committee of the APC has brought up the conversation regarding the need for ideological-driven political parties and political players in Nigeria and Africa at large. With many recent court rulings regarding party defection or cross carpeting in Nigeria, the argument that politicians are the same and only divided by current personal interest appears true.

For instance, APC’s new party Chairman was a founding member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and actually started politics as a member of the ‘conservative’ National Party of Nigeria (NPN), he is now to chair a supposed ‘Progressive’ party. Such can also be said of the party’s new National Secretary – Senator Iyiola Omisore who is another ex-PDP chieftain.

Anyway, with the uncertainty regarding APC’s leadership now out of the way, Nigerians would hope it’s a launch into better political leadership also.

Related Topics:Abdullahi Adamu APC Featured Nigeria

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Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

13 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A day after dismissing Choguel Maiga for criticising the government, Mali’s governing junta named its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as Prime Minister on Thursday, according to state broadcaster, ORTM.

A source close to Choguel Maiga told Reuters that the ruling generals were incensed by Maiga’s remarks over the weekend denouncing the junta’s inability to hold elections within the 24-month timeframe given for the return to democracy.

After promising to hold elections in February, the military authorities, who took control in two separate coups in 2020 and 2021, have put off the poll indefinitely, citing technological difficulties.

Choguel Maiga’s firing coincides with indications of growing discontent and disarray among Mali politicians, even those who first supported the coup and collaborated with the junta.

As the wait for elections continues, Choguel Maiga, a civilian prime minister who was installed by the military junta in 2021, is the most recent to lose support.

He was cited on Saturday as claiming he learnt of the junta’s decision via the media and that there had been no discussion regarding the delay of the elections inside the cabinet.

“It’s all happening in total secrecy, without the prime minister’s knowledge,” Choguel Maiga told reporters.

Before then, he had frequently stood up for Mali’s junta against criticism from foreign friends and neighbours in West Africa who denounced its repeated election delays and military collaboration with Russian mercenaries.

As government spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, the new prime minister, has also made strong public remarks against France, the previous colonial master. One such speech was demanding French President Emmanuel Macron to stop his “neocolonial” and “condescending” behaviour.

Abdoulaye Maiga and Assimi Goita, the leaders of the junta, announced they had kept all of the important cabinet ministers in their portfolios in the new administration in a statement that was broadcast on state television ORTM.

The announcement said that Abdoulaye Maiga will remain minister of territory administration.

Politics

Congo opposition mobilizes protests against constitution review

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In response to President Felix Tshisekedi’s intentions to amend the constitution, opposition lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have called for national protests on Wednesday.

Tshisekedi, who was sworn in for his second and last term in January, said that a panel would be formed in October to recommend possible constitutional amendments.

According to critics, it may be a ploy to lift term restrictions and give him another chance to run.

Tshisekedi said the current constitution, ratified by a referendum in 2005, needed to change because it did not align with the country’s current realities.

Opposition politicians, including former president Joseph Kabila and past presidential candidates Martin Fayulu and Moise Katumbi, issued a unified statement on Wednesday urging rallies to “block” Tshisekedi.

A request for a response from the Congo’s presidency was not answered.

Patrick Muyaya, the minister of communications, stated on Monday that discussions surrounding the constitutional revision should be de-politicized and that no one should doubt the president’s intentions.

“We’re at the beginning of our mandate… The President of the Republic still has four years to go, and we must avoid attributing intentions to him,” Muyaya told reporters.