The ruling All progressive congress (APC) has refuted media reports on a plot to unseat its National Chairman, Sen Abdullahi Adamu.
The rebuttal is coming against the backdrop of speculation that the top echelon of the party has perfected the strategy to sack Adamu to prepare the ground for the former Governor of Benue state, and Minister of special duties, Sen George Akume to succeed him as part of ongoing efforts to appease concerned Nigerians opposed to the Muslim -Muslim presidential ticket of the party.
Also, a chieftain of the party and the national president, APC Initiative for Good Governance, Ambassador Musa Mohammed threw his weight behind the car for the removal of Adamu due to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the party.
Mohammed noted: “There is no gainsaying that the party has indeed found itself on a crossroads. We are all Nigerians and we all know that we need each other to make good whatever desire we seek to achieve especially in party politics. I, therefore, hope that the party should rethink and switch positions.
“I am not saying that Senator Kashim Shettima should step down, no. He has been a good party man and demonstrated unequal contribution to the growth and stability of the party. By his stance with Tinubu, the former Borno state governor has shown everyone that cares about the party that when he takes the decision to stand with Tinubu, he remains the last man standing and stands to victory.
“I am of the opinion that he should remain in this position as our vice presidential candidate. However, something must be done and done immediately. I think the party’s working committee should begin to think along this line of thinking by switching some positions and allowing our Christian brothers to take positions in leading the party.
“What I am saying is that we want to make a difference in 2023 and we need the Christian votes in the north. We should not deceive ourselves because numbers matter in politics and they (Christians) also have the numbers. Moreover, we must show that we are our brother’s keepers in everything we do.
“In my own opinion, the party should immediately switch the APC National chairmanship position for a Christian and move the party Chairman to the position of National leader, which Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently occupying. Other positions should also be looked into and have the party in balance along religious lines, which is very important at this critical time.
“I know the vice presidential candidate has worked with Christians as governor of Borno state and must of those we have been speaking with said that he is a man of humble character as we all know him to be and is not a bigot. So, I believe that a lot of Christians will be happy with Kashim Shettima as VP.”
But the APC in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Mr Felix Morka maintained that there is no iota of truth in the story.
The party blamed the opposition people democratic party (PDP) for the speculation surrounding the plot for the sack of Adamu.
“The reports are based on the imagination of its sponsors ostensibly unnerved by the remarkable achievements of Sen. Adamu since assuming office as the National Chairman,” the party noted.
“Our Party and leaders are currently focused on the important task of building a strong and vibrant electoral campaign ahead, and will not be distracted by boring chirps of idle speculators.
“The opposition PDP is quite welcome to continue to dissipate its energies on innuendoes and chasing after phantom plots in APC rather than concentrate on mending its broken and acrimonious house.
“The National Working Committee of our Party stands united under Sen. Adamu’s leadership as National Chairman with the singular commitment to winning the next general election.”
