The recent ousting of Abdullahi Adamu as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was reportedly driven by a prolonged conflict with President Bola Tinubu, according to sources.
Vote of No Confidence
The governor of Imo state and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodinma, advised Adamu to resign from his position.
Party sources revealed that Adamu and the APC national secretary, Iyiola Omisore, were scheduled to face a vote of no confidence by National Working Committee (NWC) members, followed by their dismissal by the national executive committee (NEC) chaired by Tinubu.
Unaccounted N32 Billion
The underlying issue that served as the “final straw” leading to Adamu’s removal was his failure to account for the N32 billion raised by the party from the sale of forms for the 2023 general election.
According to an NWC member, only N7 billion remains in the account, and Adamu and Omisore claimed that the account had been audited.
However, party members were unaware of the appointment of auditors and questioned the transparency of the process.
The Resistance
Adamu had reportedly sought the support of state chapter chairmen to resist his removal, but his efforts were met with a lack of support.
Party insiders highlighted that the proceeds from the sale of forms were supposed to be shared with the zonal, state, and ward levels of the party, but they were not informed of the distribution, leading to a lack of support for Adamu.
Rift between Adamu and Tinubu
The rift between Adamu and Tinubu have been ongoing, with the former governor of Nasarawa state receiving support from party leaders loyal to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu’s outburst, expressing his feeling of betrayal and asserting that it was his turn to succeed Buhari, further strained the relationship.
Ahead of the APC presidential primary in June 2022, Adamu claimed that Senate President Ahmad Lawan was Buhari’s preferred candidate, despite protests and condemnation from some quarters.
Tinubu ultimately emerged as the primary winner, while Lawan finished last.
The issue of the unaccounted N32 billion was brought to Tinubu’s attention, leading to his approval for Adamu’s removal through legal means. Governor Uzodinma approached Adamu, urging him to take the necessary steps, but Omisore was unreachable at the time.
The ousting of Abdullahi Adamu marks a significant development within the APC, highlighting the power struggles and internal conflicts that have been brewing within the party.
As the APC moves forward, the focus will be on how the leadership changes will impact the party’s trajectory and preparations for the upcoming general election.
