How Buni’s interim Committee save APC from implosion -By Abba Dukawa

The APC crises started immediately  in 2015 when they were to elect 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 choices 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 initiatives and general running of government. That remind history.

Since than the party engulfed from one feud to other all in efforts by segment of stakeholders  to takes the control of party structure  the crisis has grown to  pitiable  and dirty politics resulting in  booting out two party National Working committee.   Former National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun someargued that  Chief John Odigie-Oyegun responsible for the crisis in the National Assembly for sending a letter directing the Senate President and House Speaker on who to chose as principal officers.

Other stakeholders seeing him as a   responsible for the stalemate in their party, which has been crisis ridden at that times. While other  segment of party stakeholders to the extend their accused him  of highhandedness betrayal  fraud and also  being a mole in the party.

After lingering crisis the ruling governed APC organized mini National Convention, where former National Working Committee led by Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomole brought in but  the honeymooned not last  as he  “narrowed the party to himself”  unlike his processor who not only upstaged the PDP at the presidential race, it 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 the party to became more  stronger  the party lost six states to PDP  Zamfara, Adamawa, Bauchi,  Sokoto, Oyo, and Benue states.  APC 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 choice its flagbearer in  Rivers state.  Oshiomole’s led NWC badly managed governorship election victory in Bayelsa state.

In 2020, the party has been thrown into a serious political turnoil 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 turnoil paved the way for emergence of  APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee   led by Governor Mala Buni. 

The formations of the CECPC  turn out to be good in  healing the wounds of party members by  repositioning  the party and save APC from implosion. Again APC stand 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 and 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 won his reelection.As stabilising caretaker committee, Governor Hon Buni’s met all national leaders and other party stakeholders across the country in order to accommodate all interests. Members expressed hope that peace would be restored to the party after the protracted leadership crisis. CECPC worked yielding positive result by wooing in PDP governors of Ebonyi,  Cross River and Zamfars states. Buni’s led committee also wooed  Atiku Abubakar Presidential campaign organization, former Ogun state Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and and Lt. Gen. Ihejirika have joined APC. Others are two former speakers of House of Representatives – Yakubu Dogara and Dimeji Bankole, Barnabas Gemade former PDP chairman, among others. Recently Governor Mai Mala Buni formally received member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Senator Joy Emordi, has defected to the ruling APC all these success stories of  caretaker/extra-ordinary convention committee are commendable.  There is no doubt the committee has made great achievements and  rescued the party from an imminent collapse.

On  the recent crisis engulf the party was the  Supreme Court judgment on APC’s governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state and his challenger, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the former’s nomination.

The supreme court judgement were being misinterpreted by  elements in the party 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 Artony 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  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) have passed a vote of confidence on the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni.
It is an understatement to say, APC caretaker committee had  charted a new course with renewed commitment 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 write in from Kano abbahydukawa@gmail.com