What next for rAPC?
Barring any change of strategy, the next political move of the Reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC) members is to announce their alliance with a new party; despite the fact that its leaders said they have no plan of going anywhere, maintaining that t
The general consensus in the last few days is that what the Engr. Buba Galadimaled rAPC did on June 4 was an outright revolt, akin to what transpired in 2013 when some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and members of the National Assembly, as well as exVice President Atiku Abubakar and others, rebelled against their party and formed the New PDP.
This time around, the only difference between those behind nPDP and the personalities that recently formed rAPC is that in 2013, those that staged the revolt against the PDP did not hide their faces.
Led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje at the time, the nPDP were all seen at the Yar’adua Centre, Abuja where the faction was given birth to.
Key figures at the time were governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).
In the coming days, strategic meetings were held with leaders of the APC, including Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that culminated in the defection of the governors, Atiku and others.
However, Babangida Aliyu and Sule Lamido disagreed with the other five governors on timing of the defection and therefore remained in the PDP.
Therefore, all the key actors of nPDP were well known and their mission spelt out; unlike what happened on the June 4 during the formation of rAPC when the “major actors” behind the group refused to show their faces.
Instead, they were only identified by people close to them seen at the event; and their “hands” were seen in the manner the press briefing was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja.
The leaders of the revolt initially billed the event to hold at the Yar’adua Centre by 3pm, but were suddenly shifted to the new venue (Sheraton). Even then, the event did not start until around 5.30pm.
However, at 5pm only Buba Galadima and some people showed their faces; and when journalists got visibly agitated and begun planning to leave because of the delay, the Master of Ceremony picked his microphone and apologized, saying there was “mix up” in the National Assembly because it was announced that the event would actually commence at 5pm.
He pleaded with the pressmen and other guests for more time, saying the delay was caused by the fact they were waiting for some legislators to come and be part of the event.
And when the programme started, it was only Buba Galadima (national chairman), Kawu Baraje (elder) and other members of the new National Executive Committee (NEC) of the rAPC that were seen.
But most of the NEC members of the rAPC at the event were key allies of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other notable personalities in the nPDP.
They include Bala Muh’d Gwagwarwa (D/Chairman, North); Chief Theo Nkire (D/ Chairman, South East); Eko Olakunle (Vice Chairman, South West); Hussaini Dambo (Vice Chairman, North West); Mahmud Mohammed Abubakar This time around, the only difference between those behind nPDP and the personalities that recently formed rAPC is that in 2013, those that staged the revolt against the PDP did not hide their faces (Vice Chairman, North Central); Godwin Akaan (Deputy National Secretary); Dr Fatai Atanda (National Secretary).
Others are Kazeem Afegbua (National Publicity Secretary); Daniel Bwala (Financial Secretary); Abba Malami Taura (Deputy National Auditor); Kayode Omotosho (National Treasurer); Barr. Nicholas Asuzu (National Youth Leader); Barr. Baride A. Gwezia (Legal Adviser); Haj Aisha Kaita (National Woman Leader); Mrs. Fatima Adamu (National Welfare Secretary); Alh. Isiak Akinwumi (Deputy Financial Secretary); Alh. Bashir Mai Mashi (Deputy National Treasurer); Hauwa Adam Mamuda (Deputy Welfare Secretary); Hon. Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir (Deputy National Publicity Secretary); M. T. Liman (National Organising Secretary).
This development made some journalists to go straight to the point while casting the headlines of their stories by concluding that ‘Saraki, Dogara, Kwankwaso form to R-APC’ and things like that. And none of the people mentioned distanced themselves from rAPC yet.
Can chances?
this affect Buhari’s
The big question now is whether the revolt by the rAPC members would in any way affect the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari in any way or the 2019 general elections.
“The APC has run a rudderless, inept and incompetent government that has failed to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people,” said Buba Galadima.
He said their faction is the authentic voice of the APC, and has representatives in all Nigeria’s local government wards and states.
Galadima said they are no longer in support of Buhari, saying they would field their candidate for the election.
But a source in the National Assembly said members of the rAPC, including the bigwigs of the National Assembly would simply decamp to another party in the coming weeks, meaning even if they supported another candidate, it is the personality of the candidates various political parties would present that would determine who wins.
“They have concluded plans to leave to either their old party (PDP) or another political party. You know, they cannot establish a new party before 2019,” he said.
But Daily Trust on Sunday reports that whichever way it goes, the Galadima group must take a firm decision soon. The constitution of most political parties indicates that defectors must perfect their movement at least one month to primary elections and anything after that period would mean they would have to look for waiver.
According to the INEC Guidelines for the 2019 general
elections, political parties must select their candidates for the election between Aug. 18 and Oct. 7.
The Deputy Director, Coordination/Implementation of the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council in 2015, Malam Mohammed Lawan, admitted in a phone interview yesterday that indeed there are problems with recent developments but this would not affect the chances of President Buhari.
According to him, “The rAPC factor may affect the generality of campaign in 2019 but not President Buhari in particular. My reason is simple, it is not farfetched; who among the rAPC members is a presidential material that has the capacity, the outreach, aura and national acceptance to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari?
“Yes, we have admitted in many interviews that 2019 would not be like 2015. Ye came and said we would effect change and anywhere in the world change is not easy. So many people are offended; many people are aggrieved, some genuinely and some selfishly so definitely it would not be a smooth sail but chances of the president are bright and huge even though there would be a lot of challenges and issues,” he said.
When asked if they are making efforts to mend fences so as to have it easy during elections, Lawan said, “You see, look at their chairman, Buba Galadima who is claiming they are the owners of APC, that nobody can chase them out. So there strategy now is maybe to compel INEC to give them the APC registration certificate which they know is not possible.
“So I believe they would remain in the party thinking they could cause maximum distraction and disaffection within the party before they patch in their permanent abode which many be PDP or any other coalition. But in the long run they know they would not get anything out of it,” he said.
Another source said the R-APC members are confused because some of the bigwigs in their camp are not interested in decamping with them.
The source said: “Look at Wamakko, Goje and others who played key roles in 2015; they are not interested in leaving the APC because they had their ways in our last congresses. So even if they are going, it may not be at a go.”
In a phone interview, a former Senate leader, Ali Ndume said the development should not be seen as a threat to the APC in 2019.
“It is unfortunate but it should not be seen as something that would determine the success of the APC in next year’s election. This is because our party’s success was not based on individuals. If the success is attributed to the contributions of individuals, 95 per cent of the success should be attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It was because of Buhari that the nPDP members who contested for elections in 2015 won. If they had remained in their party, the same fate that befell their colleagues who remained in the PDP would have pushed them out of the political scene,” he said.
He went further to say that, “Majority of our colleagues in the National Assembly won election because of Buhari. And not the other way round. That’s why the big names like Abdu Ningi couldn’t return in 2015. They lost because of Buhari / APC sak factor. They all know that they will be the losers if the leave to another party.”
Reacting to the claim by the rAPC that APC belongs to them, he said: “If a house is yours, will you be crying of marginalisation? Their statement that the party belong to them is a contradiction. If a house belong to you, you would you be crying of humiliation?
On their demand for a new party, Ndume said “You are not in a house, and you are demanding for a room. Since they said they are leaving, why would they be demanding for an automatic ticket? The way forward The Chairman of the Senate committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa (APC, Zamfara) has identified what would make the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole succeed in piloting the affairs of the party. He said their faction is the authentic voice of the APC, and has representatives in all Nigeria’s local government wards and states.
Marafa’s is one of those that held a parallel congress in Zamfara State and capped it all with taking delegates to the national convention of the APC in Abuja. The delegates were sent away at the Eagle Square and those from the camp of the state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari were recognized.
In a WhatsApp chat with our correspondent, Marafa who has indicated interest in contesting for the governorship election in Zamfara State, said Oshiomhole must adhere to the international best practice of party politics.
He suggested that Oshiomhole should give performing elected executive office holders in their first term the right of first refusal, meaning automatic ticket unless where the situation in their constituency expressly dictates otherwise.
“He should give automatic tickets to some deserving other elected officials to reduce the tension created by the just concluded congresses,” he said.
But the National Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Maimala Buni said the new leadership under Oshiomhole is not taking anything for granted.
Maimala said: The new leadership of the party has as a matter of priority started going round, meeting stakeholders to iron out differences and chart a new cause for the party. The chairman along with national officers met with the APC caucus in both the Senate and House of Representatives as part of the new approach to resolving problems in the party.
“This will continue with all other stakeholders for a collective and all inclusive approach to resolving seeming differences.
“The party values every member and would want him/her to remain in the party. The new leadership will strive to address all areas of disagreement to give every member a sense of belonging and assurance. It is our collective believe that this will further strengthen the fortunes of the party across the nation with high potentials for the 2019 election and beyond.
“As the leading national party, it is in nobody’s interest to approach the 2019 election in disarray, but I assure you that APC is and will continue to do everything possible to carry everyone along to maintain a strong united family and to emerge victorious,” he said.
It is now left to be seen how the overtures by the new leadership would go; and whether those behind the nAPC would finally move out the way they did in 2013 under nPDP to join any of the many coalitions springing up of recent.