By David Lawani
Soft-landing is what has been promised members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who purchased expression of interest forms for varying positions most especially the chairmanship slot. They were assured of soft-landing if not there might be some dire consequences.

The former governor of Benue State, George Akume, led the others after a few hours to the commencement of the national convention. Shortly before the event, a letter surfaced with written names of all the aspirants saying they have voluntarily withdrawn their aspiration in support of Abdullahi Adamu.

No doubt, the crisis in the party was nearing intractable heights that were frightening until recently when President Muhammadu Buhari directed that there should be an election for the selection of National Executive Committee, NEC, members of the party. It was not surprising that after back and forth, the aspirants agreed to back and support Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who hails from Nasarawa State, North-East central zone.

The Eagles Square wore a terrifying look because of the deployment of fierce-looking security agents. The Police, civil defence, road safety, VIO, and other para-military outfits were all out for the business of ensuring adequate protection for every entrant to the venue and beyond.

Different political dramas unfolded. Some party members felt it was an opportunity to vent their grievances or make their voices be heard. Voices rose to deafening points. But the essence of it all was to decide what best mode to provide to the elect-select running of the affairs of the party in the next four years.

Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe state and also dubbed as the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) took over some two and half years ago, after the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole was consumed in the political implosion.

Since he took over after the President invoked the necessary powers through NEC to appoint him for the position, his sole aim was to prepare the party for a fresh convention after the court of appeal stopped Adams Oshiomhole from parading himself as national chairman of the party.

The need to fill up the vacuum became necessary. But the combination of managing a state and also running the party affairs became a herculean task for the time Buni stayed as chairman of CECPC.

But, it is to be noted that under him the party conducted party registration of members and according to it, 41 members were registered in the last exercise. Also, part of the challenge facing the party system according to the reality on the ground is that every electioneering year, political parties engaged in new and fresh registration of members.

But it is unfortunate that despite these obvious lacunae of parties not having a verifiable database or register calls for a rethinking of the political process. Hardly, will any party among the ones participating in the electoral process can adequately provide authentic membership records.

It is to be recalled that seventy-two hours after conceding the national chairmanship of the party to President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the governors, working in collision with some ministers, yesterday named their choices for the majority of the remaining 75 national executive committee positions.

Missing from the unity list released by the governors were the names of a former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani; Farouk Aliyu; Ifeolu Oyedele, and Waziri Bulama.

They had sought to vie for Deputy National Chairman (South), Deputy National Chairman (North), National Secretary, and National Organising Secretary respectively.

Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State formally presented Adamu to the convention on Saturday night.

Delegates were scheduled to vote for the next national women leader. And Beta Edu won. She defeated her closest rival with a wide margin.

Former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, also stepped down from the race for APC National Secretary.

The governors’ list itself is a product of intense lobbying, meetings, and consultations over three days.

The governors were said to have been guided by the following five factors in compiling the Unity List: Protecting the interest of the legacy parties that formed APC. The need to respect the desire of members and leaders for unity, a sense of belonging, and party cohesion; to have a solid and vibrant National Working Committee (NWC) which can help Senator Abdullahi Adamu whose age may slow down, build a bridge between current governors/leaders and latter ones at the party level from 2023, and winning the 2023 polls begins with getting it right with the right party structure which is key and fundamental to all permutations.

I will vie for the office of the President – Wike

Looking at the Unity List which consists of Senator Adamu as National Chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari, (Deputy National Chairman, North); Emma Eneukwu, (Deputy National Chairman, South); Senator Iyiola Omisore (National Secretary); Festus Fuanter (Deputy National Secretary); Mustapha Salihu (National Vice Chairman North-East); Muhazu Bawa Rijau (National Vice Chairman North-Central) and Suleiman Mohammed Argungu National Organising Secretary).

It also contains Salihu Lukman (National Vice Chairman, North-West); Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, (National Vice Chairman South-East); Dr. Victor Giadom, National Vice Chairman South-South); Isaac Kekemeke (National Vice Chairman South-West); Ahmed El-Marzuk (National Legal Adviser); Bashir Usman Gumel (National Financial Secretary) and Uguru Mathew Ofoke (National Treasurer).

Chief Eneukwu was National Vice Chairman (South East) of the party under Chief John Oyegun and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s leadership.

The National Unity List was signed by APC governors and leaders including Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State; Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State; Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State; Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, while Prof Abubakar Zulum of Borno State, A Abdulrazaq of Kwara State and Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.

Other signatories were Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; Hope Uzodinma of Imo State; Nweze David; Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State; M. B. Abubakar; Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State; and Abu Bello of Niger State.

Some of the candidates had announced that they were stepping down from the race at the convention venue before the arrival of House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Adebayo Shittu, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele and Prof. Abideen Olaiya withdrew from the race for the national secretary to pave the way for Senator Iyiola Omisore.

In addition, party sources ThisNigeria that the governors and ministers seemed to have applied “a scramble and partition” model in assembling the NEC members.

The source disclosed that some of the governors/ministers who have their allies on the Unity List are the outgoing Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Babagana Umara Zulum (Borno), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), as well as Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

According to the source: “At the stakeholders meeting of the North-East during the week, Buni virtually begged everyone that his political ally, Mustapha Salihu, be allowed to return as National Vice Chairman, North-East.

“Some party leaders from Adamawa State opposed the choice of Salihu but Buni applied tact. And when some stakeholders got to know that certain forces in the Presidency wanted Salihu, they immediately endorsed him at the zonal level.

“On his part, Governor Atiku Bagudu did not waste time to recommend his Chief of Staff, Suleiman Mohammed Argungu, as the party’s National Organizing Secretary.

“Similarly, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was passionate about Kekemeke for the office of National Vice Chairman (South-West). The same Akeredolu resisted a plot to re-zone the office of National Secretary to Ondo to edge out Kekemeke.

His anger was compounded by the fact that Ifeolu Oyedele, who was handpicked by some forces in the Presidency to be National Secretary, had not been his political ally.

“On his part, Victor Giadom returned to APC NWC in deference to the PDP elements in the legacy parties led by the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi. The same Giadom was handy in fighting a former National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, to a standstill.

“To fill his slot, Governor Aminu Bello Masari opted for his Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq as APC’s new National Legal Adviser.

“As for el-Rufai, his preference for the National Vice Chairman (North-West) is his trusted aide, Salihu Lukman, who held the fort while he was in exile during the administration of the late President Umar Yar’Adua.

“Apart from coordinating the acceptance of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu as the consensus National Chairman by other aspirants, Governor Kayode Fayemi ensured that the South-West kept its agreement with Senator Iyiola Omisore as its choice for the National Secretary of APC.

“Omisore, who was vital to APC’s victory in the 2018 governorship Election in Osun State had not been fully accommodated. His choice may seal the hope of PDP in the South-West in the 2023 poll.

“Conscious of his exit next year, Governor Simon Lalong nominated his kinsman, Festus Fuanter as Deputy National Secretary of APC. Fuanter is the immediate past Commissioner for Lands and Survey in Plateau State. He is also of the same Gomai ethnic group in Plateau South Senatorial District. He is close to the governor.

“With bickering in his state over Deputy National Chairman (North) slot, Governor Abubakar Badaru settled for the office of National Financial Secretary for his state. His choice is Bashir Usman Gumel, who is said to be his wife’s relation.

“Until his nomination by Governor Hope Uzodinma, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu was Chairman of the southeast Zonal APC Secretariat.

“On his part, Governor Dave Umahi has his anointed candidate in Uguru Mathew Ofoke as the National Treasurer of the party.”

In all of this, the onus lies on the party and its members to show and prove their support for it during the primaries. It is there that the test of the pudding will be decided despite the consensus arrangement. Some members of the party are waiting patiently to take their pound of flesh. But only time will tell how it will all pan out.