Politics
APC expels Eta, extends caretaker committee tenure by six months
- Dissolves party’s structure nationwide
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has announced the expulsion of the former acting national chairman of the party, Hillard Eta, for pressing ahead with his court case against the party.
It also extended the tenure of its National Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee by additional six months.
The committee led by Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, was set up on June 25, 2020, following the dissolution of the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC).
This is coming as President Muhammadu Buhari called on the party stakeholders to return to the era where it respected informal and formal agreements reached before the formation of the APC.
Eta, who was the National Vice Chairman, South-South in the Comrade Oshiomhole’s dissolved NWC of the party, had continued to claim that he remained acting national chairman of the party despite the dissolution of the NWC.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday, Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai joined by his Imo and Ondo counterparts, Hope Uzodinma and Rotimi Akeredolu, disclosed the party’s decisions.
He explained that the tenure extension was to enable the committee to complete its assignment.
He said the six months period was makeup to the time lost to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NEC has also approved the dissolution of the party organs at the polling units, wards, local government, states and zonal levels as well as the non-NWC component of the NEC.
The highest decision-making body of the ruling party approved their immediate reconstitution and composition of the dissolved Excos to serve in their respective offices in a caretaker committee capacity but excluding the non-NWC members of NEC.
The party granted a blanket waiver for new members and potential members who may wish to contest for any elective position on its platform.
Reading the five-point resolution of the NEC, el-Rufai said, “National Executive Committee of the party approves the extension of the tenure of Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee led by Mai Mala Buni, which expires on December 25, 2020, for another six months period, to terminate on 30th of June, 2021. This is to enable the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee to conclude its assignment as laid before NEC.
“NEC has also donated its powers as enshrined in Articles 13.3 Subsection 5 and 13.3 Subsection 6 of the APC Constitution to the Caretaker and Convention Planning Committee.
“The second resolution is that NEC has approved the granting of waivers to persons who have recently joined the party members and those desirous of joining the party in the nearest future. By this, such new members will enjoy all the benefits and privileges accruable by virtue of their membership of the party. So, they will be able to contest for positions in the party, they will be able to contest elections without any requirement of being members for a number of years or period of time.
“The third resolution, NEC approved the expulsion of Ntufam Hilliard Eta from the party for flaunting the directives of NEC to discontinue all litigation against the party and its members.
“The fourth resolution, NEC approved the immediate dissolution of the party organs at the polling units, wards, local government, states and zonal levels as well as the non-National Working Committee component of the National Executive Committee as well as their immediate reconstitution and composition of the dissolved Excos to serve in their respective offices in a caretaker committee capacity but excluding the non-NWC members of NEC.
“Finally, the NEC condemns in very strong terms, the call by the PDP leadership and some of their cheerleaders for the resignation of Mr President. NEC observes that security challenges though regrettable can only be addressed when all interest, civil and military, governments and opposition, security forces and indeed all citizens collaborate irrespective of party affiliation. This is not the time to politicize security.”
In his opening remarks at the meeting, President Buhari recalled that the APC was used to respecting agreements reached whether formally or informally and urged its members to return to that era.
He said, “I want to appeal to all our party members and leaders at all levels, to try and make the required sacrifices so that we are able to collectively restore our progressive and democratic political party, which can nurture and give expression to our collective dream of building a strong, united and developed Nigeria.
“May I use this opportunity to remind all of us of the need to recreate our negotiation secret of 2012, 2013 under our legacy parties. What guided our success to achieve the merger that produced the APC was the respect we were able to have for each other. In those times, decisions reached both at formal and informal consultations were respected with trusted initiatives taken and believed that they were needed to produce the required political platform that could guarantee electoral victory. Every one of us as leaders ensured that those decisions were respected.
“I have, through consultations of the caretaker committee and other leaders of the party, agree that our challenges in the party require that we take steps to rebuild the party from wards to national levels. The initiative to carry out membership registration revalidation is, therefore, necessary, membership registration revalidation will lay the foundation for reorganizing our membership from ward to local government, state and national levels.”
Chairman of the APC National Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Buni, recalled that at his assumption of office, the APC was like a theatre of war at many levels.
He said, “Conflicts reconciliation within the party: on the assumption of office at the end of June 2020, our party was a theatre of infighting both at the national level and in many states.
“Reconciliation of all the warring factions and individuals was, therefore, an important consideration for us to be able to commence the process of reconstituting the party’s leadership.”
“To achieve that, we set up a reconciliation committee across the country. Issues such as Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Enugu, Zamfara, Edo, Ondo Anambra and Oyo were either referred to one of the committees to handle directly or handled directly by the national caretaker committee.
“Tempers within our party have substantially come down although the works of our various reconciliation committees are yet to be concluded. While progress is being recorded by our respective reconciliation committees, the task of reconciliation should be continuous.”
Politics
Our position on Tinubu/Shettima 2027 campaign billboards – Presidency
Our position on Tinubu/Shettima 2027 campaign billboards – Presidency
The Nigerian Presidency has issued a statement dissociating itself from Tinubu/Shettima 2027 Campaign Billboards that have been seen in several cities around the country.
In a statement released on Sunday, signed by Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency warned that premature campaigning was against the law and could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
The statement read in full; “The Presidency has observed, with dismay, the increasing number of billboards in some cities promoting the 2027 campaign for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.”
“Worth noting is that some of these billboards with pictures of the President and his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, emblazoned on them are springing up in Abuja and Kano in particular.”
“While President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima greatly appreciate their teeming and loyal supporters across the country for their enthusiasm and continuing support, the two leaders do not support any campaign that breaches the laws of the land.”
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“The electoral law that guides the conduct of elections and political campaigns forbids any form of campaign for the 2027 general elections. Premature campaigning can undermine the integrity of the electoral process and create unfair advantages. As law-abiding leaders, President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima do not support any action that undermines our institutions and the electoral process.”
“Until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sets the timetable for the 2027 elections, the President has not endorsed or authorised anyone or any group to mount a 2027 campaign for him through any media channel—be it Out-of-Home, print, digital, radio, or television.”
“Therefore, we urgently call on individuals and groups funding this 2027 political campaign through the ongoing deployment of materials on billboards nationwide to cease immediately.
“President Tinubu and his deputy are fully committed to delivering the ongoing task of nation-building they have set for themselves. This commitment is evident in their focus on economic revitalisation, human capital development, infrastructural renewal, social investment, and national security.”
“When INEC signals that the processes for the 2027 elections can start, President Tinubu will duly inform Nigerians of his plans.”
Our position on Tinubu/Shettima 2027 campaign billboards – Presidency
Politics
Why we will work against Atiku in 2027 – Bauchi gov’s son
Why we will work against Atiku in 2027 – Bauchi gov’s son
Shamsu Bala, son of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has publicly accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of undermining his father’s bid for reelection in 2023—alleging that the time has come to “settle scores.”
In a post shared on social media Saturday, Mr. Bala expressed strong disapproval of Atiku’s approach toward reconciliation ahead of the 2027 elections, stating that the presidential hopeful remains indifferent toward mending ties with the governor.
“He (Atiku) didn’t work for us in the 2023 election; he worked for Air Marshal (the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Abubakar Sadiq). He deployed elites in Bauchi to fight us, and we narrowly won the election,” Mr. Bala wrote in Hausa.
He added: “Now he is taking us for granted, he doesn’t value us as humans, he is showing us that we are too small to call for reconciliation.”
Although he didn’t name those involved, his remarks appear to allude to certain Bauchi political heavyweights. In early 2023, Governor Mohammed directed the Bauchi Emirate Council to strip veteran politician Bello Kirfi of his traditional title of Wazirin Bauchi over alleged disloyalty. Kirfi, a former minister and close ally of Atiku, is seen by some as one of the elites mentioned by the governor’s son.
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Another key figure, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, supported Atiku’s presidential run but did not back Governor Mohammed’s reelection.
Despite the tensions, Atiku secured a strong showing in Bauchi during the 2023 presidential election, defeating his closest rival, Bola Tinubu of the APC, by more than 100,000 votes. Atiku garnered 426,607 votes compared to Tinubu’s 316,694.
Mr. Bala’s comments surfaced shortly after Atiku paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna—a move widely interpreted as part of ongoing coalition-building efforts ahead of the 2027 election.
The comments sparked concern among PDP loyalists. Party supporter and social media influencer Abdulaziz Na’ibi-Abubakar responded to the post by urging reconciliation between the two camps. “We hope that Atiku and Governor Bala Mohammed reconcile their differences to keep the PDP on track,” he stated.
Governor Mohammed had previously challenged Atiku during the PDP’s 2022 presidential primaries before shifting focus to secure a second term as governor. As chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, he remains a central figure in the party’s internal politics and is speculated to still harbor presidential ambitions.
Why we will work against Atiku in 2027 – Bauchi gov’s son
(PREMIUM TIMES)
Politics
2027: Buhari loyalists, CPC threaten to leave APC, Tinubu worries
2027: Buhari loyalists, CPC threaten to leave APC, Tinubu worries
With the 2027 presidential election drawing closer, President Bola Tinubu’s camp is reportedly scrambling to prevent a major political crisis as influential members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly those from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc, consider defecting to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Tinubu Turns to Al-Makura to Pacify Buhari’s Allies
A leaked internal memo reveals that President Tinubu is banking on former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, to persuade the CPC bloc—loyalists of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari—to remain in the APC. Sources say Al-Makura is being offered the APC national chairmanship in exchange for his role in convincing Buhari to intervene and stop his supporters from leaving.
Al-Makura is expected to hold a press conference on Monday, where he may announce Buhari’s alleged endorsement of Tinubu’s efforts to keep the party united.
Growing Discontent Within APC
The ruling party is facing increasing internal strife, with several high-profile figures openly expressing dissatisfaction with Tinubu’s leadership. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and ex-Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa are reportedly exploring alternative political platforms ahead of 2027.
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El-Rufai has already claimed that Buhari gave him his “blessing” to leave the APC. Meanwhile, some former ministers from Buhari’s administration are said to be finalizing plans to join the SDP in large numbers. In Katsina, Buhari’s home state, several APC members have already defected.
APC Leadership in Panic Mode
The Progressive Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, recently visited Buhari in Kaduna, pleading with him to help stop the looming exodus.
APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) also met with the former president last Friday—just hours after opposition leaders, including Atiku, El-Rufai, Tambuwal, and former Communications Minister Isa Pantami, held talks with him.
With tensions rising, fears of a potential mass defection have intensified. Political observers warn that the departure of this influential faction could deal a significant blow to the ruling party’s prospects in the 2027 elections.
2027: Buhari loyalists, CPC threaten to leave APC, Tinubu worries
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