Year of Intrigues at Buhari House

The past year is an eventful one for the ruling All Progressives Congress. Party leaders and ordinary worshipers witnessed many landmark events accompanied by stabs in the back: the failed coup led by Niger State Governor Sani Bello to overthrow the Governor of 'Yoke State, Mai Mala Buni, as Chairman of the Interim Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee. ; the conduct of a national convention where a new set of national officers emerged with Senator Abdullahi Adamu as national chairman. Another significant event of the Year was the emergence of the two-term Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the party's flag bearer for the 2023 general elections. TAIWO AMODU presents the event log:

March 7: Niger's governor in failed coup attempt

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, who incidentally is part of the APC's interim leadership team, stormed the party's national secretariat and proclaimed himself Acting National President while Yobe State Governor was away in Dubai, UAE. The development was the culmination of the split in the rank of governors. Rotimi Akeredolu and Mallam Nasir El Rufai, Governors of Ondo and Kaduna States respectively, were in cahoots with the Governor of Niger State in this failed attempt.

March 17: Buni takes over, while Buhari retracts

Ten days after being replaced as the party's interim national chairman, the governor of Yobe has returned to Buhari House. Governor Buni, who had been declared persona non grata at the party's national secretariat, survived the "gangup" of some of his colleagues thanks to a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari, who was in the United Kingdom, taking care of his health problem. . In a letter dated March 16, 2022 which he personally signed and addressed to the Governor of Kebbi State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the President ordered an immediate return to the status quo ante, following the controversial attempt to change the leadership of the CECPC. Buhari also ordered that the CECPC led by Buni be accordingly authorized to make all necessary preparations to hold the convention as scheduled on March 26.

March 26: Amid protests, Adamu succeeds Buni as APC president

Former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu has been proclaimed Consensus Chairman of the APC with Senator Iyiola Omisore as National Secretary.

June 5: Northern APC governors hand over power to the South

Ten of the ruling APC's 11 northern governors issued a joint statement, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to back a southern presidential candidate. Those who signed the statement included Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Professor Umara Zulum (Borno), Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) . Others were, Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and a former Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako. The statement reads: “The APC Governors and Political Leaders of the Northern States of Nigeria met today to review the political situation and to further support our Party by providing progressive leadership among our national challenges. During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari's invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.

"After careful deliberations, we wish to affirm our firm belief that after eight years in office, the APC Presidential candidate for the 2023 elections should be one of our many members from the Southern States of Nigeria This is a matter of honor for the CPA, an obligation which is in no way affected by the decisions made by any other political party. We affirm that respect for this principle is in the interest of the construction of a stronger, more united and more progressive country.

“We therefore wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as President of the APC be limited to our compatriots in the southern states. national interest and to allow only southern aspirants to contest the primaries. We are delighted with the decision of our esteemed colleague, His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.

"The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections provide a moment of nation-building, reaffirming that a democratic path to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms This moment calls for the most restrained and inclusive approach to selecting our party's candidate, and we call on all CPA leaders to fulfill their re...