APC Crisis: Tinubu shops for Adamu’s successor

The sudden resignation of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was spurred by the manner they handled the contentious audit report of the party’s account.

This is as indications emerged that President Bola Tinubu and governors elected on the platform of the party have started shopping for a replacement for the departed officials.

Adamu and Omisore handed over their resignation letters on Sunday amid controversies about the reason for their actions.

Their resignation letters were officially confirmed at an emergency meeting held by the National Working Committee at the party headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The announcement was made by Adamu’s successor, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who has taken over the mantle of leadership in acting capacity in line with the party’s constitution.

Omisore’s attempt to join the NWC meeting was thwarted as he was prevented from accessing the venue.

Aggrieved NWC members told our correspondent on Monday that the contention over the manner the two men handled the audit of the party’s account, refusal to render party account for one year, lack of transparency, violation of the party constitution and running a one-man show without the contribution of the National Working Committee, were responsible for their downfall.

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Speaking on condition of anonymity, an NWC member stated, “The final straw that broke the camel’s back was the manner they (Adamu and Omisore) contracted the audit account to an external auditor without the consent of the NWC or NEC.

“When the audit was completed, rather than extend it to members of the committee for scrutiny, Adamu and Omisore both signed and forwarded it to INEC. That aroused suspicions and further made the NWC to inform President Bola Tinubu and the APC governors of an imminent implosion if the tension is not doused on time.”

A party chieftain at the secretariat, who also craved anonymity, also gave a similar narration.

The NWC member stated that the process for rendering the party’s account should have been followed, including the use of the party’s internal audit department.

He said, “Before you send anything to the regulator (INEC), you must allow the management of a company to finish its work. When the board looks at it, they will take it to the general meeting. It is even after that the company can consider sending it to the regulator.

“In this case, the management has not even looked at it. The audit report was signed primarily by the secretary and the chairman. Yet, we have rules and regulations that guide how things should be done.”

On why Omisore was humiliated and barred from joining the NWC meeting, the source said the former secretary no longer had any business in the secretariat.

“I am not making excuses for him. But if I were him, I wouldn’t have bothered turning up at the secretariat instead of allowing it to get to this level. Unlike the chairman, who was given a ‘dignified exit’ in the sense that he didn’t bother to show up for the meeting,” he stated.

He told newsmen: “As members of the NWC of the APC, we are here to address you to the happenings and recent developments regarding the party. The NWC wishes to inform you about the resignation of the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and that of the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

“With this development and according to the constitution of the APC, it is now incumbent on my humble self, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as deputy national chairman (North) to assume the office of the acting national chairman of the APC. Subsequently also, the deputy national secretary, Festus Fuantar, will now assume the office of the acting National Secretary of the APC.

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“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, July 18 and the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party slated for Wednesday night, July 19 are hereby postponed.

“This postponement will not be indefinite but a new date will be communicated in the near future. At this point, the individuals have resigned voluntarily and that is what is available at this moment. Reasons for resignations will be made to you in the near future.”

On whether the NWC would unleash anti-graft agency on Adamu following allegations of financial recklessness, Kyari replied: “Everybody has his own style of administration. And I think this present NWC will be in line with what the physician says. I will operate based on that.”

Meanwhile, Adamu has evacuated his personal effects from his office. As at 1.30pm, yesterday, his personal staff were seen packing out his belongings such as ablution materials, portraits, among others.

His large portrait pictures were equally removed from his office, conference rooms, other offices and replaced with that of Kyari.

Names like James Faleke, Emma Enukwu and Simon Lalong among others are being bandied as Adamu’s replacement. However, reacting to it, a member of the NWC told our correspondent that the party would not be in any hurry to replace the resigned chairman.

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He stressed that the party’s leadership would engage in extensive wide consultation before taking final decision on it.

In the early hours of yesterday, there was palpable tension and anxiety at the party’s secretariat over the development. Members of the secretariat staff that arrived the headquarters early to confirm the veracity of the news about Adamu’s resignation went into wild jubilation.

The secretariat staff who gathered in groups inside the complex to discuss the development did not hide their joy over the ouster of Adamu, who they described as a sadist.

“He threatened us with sack to cow us but he employed over 20 personal staff and gave them jumbo take-home packages. The allowances the party supposed to pay us, he denied us. He approved millions of naira for the leadership during the presidential election and refused to give anything for the staff. But the NWC members he gave money could not deliver their wards. They lost their wards yet the staff delivered.

“The most allowing one was our request for allocation of land to the secretariat staff. The NWC members hijacked it and sent only their names and it is awaiting approval. Our prayer is that it should not approved.

“It is good that he is gone. He inflicted so much pains and misery on us since he assumed here. We have prayed for a day like this and thank God our prayers have been answered today. Let him go because we are tired of him,” the jubilant secretariat staff told our correspondent in confidence.