The All Progressives Congress APC yesterday confirmed the resignation of its national chairman, Mr. Abdullahi Adamu and the secretary, Mr. Iyiola Omisore.
The former deputy national chairman (North) Mr Abubakar Kyari took over the leadership of the party in an acting capacity while the deputy national secretary, Mr Festus Fuanter, from Plateau State, replaced Omisore.
Briefing journalists after a meeting of the party’s national working committee held at its headquarters in Abuja, Kyari who announced the resignation of the Adamu and Omisore, said he was taking over based on the provision of the Constitution of the APC.
NWC members who attended yesterday’s meeting included Kyari; deputy national chairman (South), Emma Eneukwu; national vice chairman (North-west), Salihu Lukman; national organising secretary, Suleiman Arugungu; deputy national organising secretary, Nze Duru; national vice chairman (North-east), Salihu Mustapha; national vice chairman (North-central), Muazu Bawa; national vice chairman (South-west), Issacs Kekemeke; national vice chairman (South-east), Ejoroma Arodiogu and Fuanter.
Kyari further said the proposed national caucus meeting slated for Tuesday (today), July 18, 2023, and the national executive committee meeting of the party slated for Wednesday, July 19, 2023 had been postponed but not idefinitely.
“As members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), we are here to address you to the happenings and recent developments regarding the party.
“The NWC wishes to inform you of the resignation of the national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and that of the national secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
“And with this development, and according to the constitution of the APC, it is now incumbent on my humble self, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as a deputy national chairman, North, to assume the office of the acting national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“And subsequently, also, the deputy national secretary, Festus Fuantar, will now assume the office of the acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“And with this recent developments in the change of leadership, I will like to inform everybody here that the proposed National Caucus meeting slated for Tuesday, the 18th of July 2023, and the National Executive Committee meetings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for Wednesday, 19th of July 2023 are hereby been postponed. And this postponement will not be indefinite but a new date will be communicated in the near future,” he said.
Kyari did not give reasons for the resignation of Adamu and Omisore.
“At this point, the individuals have resigned voluntarily and that is what is available at this moment. Reasons for resignations will be made (available) to you in the near future,” he said.
Adamu was appointed national chairman of the party in March 2022 after he was anointed for the position by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He is going down in history as the shortest-lived elected chairman of APC. He spent 15 months in office. Pa Bisi Akande, The nterim national chairman of the party, Mr Bisi Akande, who was appointed, not elected, spent one year in that capacity.
The governor of Yobe State, Mr Mala Buni, who like Akande was not elected, spent about two years as interim chairman while the former governors of Edo State, Messrs John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole served for four years apiece.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former minister of aviation Mr Osita Chidoka, has called on the ruling APC to prioritise national unity and fairness by zoning its chairmanship position to the southeast.
He said in a statement that the APC currently has its six top positions zoned as follows: president, southwest; vice president, northeast; senate president, south-south; speaker, house of representatives, northwest and secretary to the government of the federation, north-central.
He also said as discussions commenced on ministerial nominees, board appointments, and policy directions of the government, the six offices would make important inputs to the process and progress of the government.
“As a Nigerian, patriot, student of our national history, and proponent of intentional national rebirth, I recommend that the APC zones the national chairmanship to the South-east, to ensure inclusive representation.
“Some will say the South-east did not vote for the party and President Tinubu, my answer will be that the South-west did not vote for NPN, when Chief Akinloye was the powerful chairman of NPN.
“Also, the South-west did not vote for PDP, when president Obasanjo was nominated and elected President of Nigeria. Our national unity can only be built on deliberate inclusive policies.
“The resignation of the APC Chairman presents an opportunity for the party to reaffirm its national credentials and depart from its inglorious past of naked nepotism and gross insensitivity to our national consensus by zoning the position of national chairman to the southeast.
“Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the time to rise above petty politics and renew the idea of Nigeria is now. A southeast national chairman for the APC would be a step in the right direction,” he said.
