The ruling All Progressives Congress [APC] held its national convention between Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 which culminated in the emergence of a new set of leaders. Over 6,800 delegates drawn from the 36 states of the federation thronged Abuja for the convention to elect national and zonal officers that would pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years. Most of the offices were filled through affirmation after series of interventions by the presidency, APC governors and other party leaders. Many of those who withdrew from the race said they listened to appeals by party leaders and due to shortage of time for them to make the desired impact on the party’s fortunes before the 2019 elections, hence they decided to allow those occupying the seats to continue.
Consensus could not however be reached for some of the offices such as those of Deputy National Chairman, North and South, some zonal vice chairmen and that of national organizing secretary. This necessitated the casting of votes by delegates and the popular aspirants finally emerged after 48 hours. Some of the new members of the National Working Committee [NEC] include Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman; Niyi Adebayo, Deputy National Chairman, South; Senator Lawal Shu’aibu, Deputy National Chairman, North; Hillary Etegbo, Vice-Chairman, South-South; Emmanuel Eneukwu, Vice Chairman, South-East; Bankole Oluwajana, Vice Chairman, South-West and Inuwa Abdulkadir, Vice Chairman, North-West.
Others are Mustapha Salisu, Vice Chairman, North-East; Mai Mala Buni, National Secretary; Adamu Fanda, National Treasurer; Tunde Bello, National Financial Secretary; Ibrahim Masari, National Welfare Secretary; George Moghalu, National Auditor; Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary; Salamatu Umar, National Women Leader; Abubakar L. Shayyu, National Youth Leader; Babatunde Ogala, National Legal Adviser and Misbahu L. Didi, Representative of the physically-challenged.
In his acceptance speech, Oshiomhole said he is in a hurry to tackle the party’s challenges. The former Edo State governor urged aggrieved party members, especially members of nPDP to remain in APC “which we jointly built.” He said his leadership would put in place a conflict resolution mechanism which would handle crises within the party. Oshiomhole also said he would ensure effective reward system for party members who worked for its success at all levels. He thanked the party’s founding fathers including its pioneer Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the immediate past National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
In the last three years since it came to power, APC passed through tumultuous moments. Acrimony, distrust and mutual suspicion among its members hardly allowed it to act as the ruling party. In February this year, the tenure of Chief John Odigie Oyegun and other officials at ward, local government, state and national levels were extended by one year but the move was resisted by powerful party leaders. Oyegun’s tenure was largely lacklustre and was characterised by crises. APC was poorly funded and badly disorganised at the national level, though observers blamed President Buhari, who kept the party at arm’s length.
Conventions are one of the conditions for parties’ continued existence as legal entities. We therefore congratulate APC for managing to hold one after prolonged delays. It was not all a smooth sail because there were some unpleasant issues, such as the fight by parallel delegates from some states such as Delta and Imo. The National Convention Committee led by Jigawa State Governor Muhammadu Badaru did its job very well though issues arising from state congresses tried to mar its job. Initially there were fears that the convention would be marred by violence considering the tension that marred the various congresses held in wards, local governments and states across the country.
We therefore congratulate the winners that emerged at all levels and also call them to action. Oshiomhole should immediately set the ball rolling to heal wounds and move the party forward. As a ruling party APC has many short-comings but with a charismatic chairman like Oshiomhole, it should at last begin to live up to its status.
