President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is shopping for a replacement for the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who resigned on Monday.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Tinubu has been consulting with party stakeholders to find a suitable replacement for Adamu. Some names mentioned as possible replacements include James Faleke, Tanko Almakura, and Silas Agara.
The sources said that Tinubu is looking for a candidate who is loyal to him and who can help him to consolidate his power within the party.
They also said that Tinubu is concerned about the party’s image and wants to appoint a chairman who can help to improve the party’s standing in the eyes of the public.
“Honestly, if you ask me, I do not know who the person is. You are the one asking me about (James) Faleke and (Tanko) Almakura now. Some are even saying Silas Agara, a former deputy governor of Nasarawa state, but the president is keeping things to his chest and his inner circle, and that is not unexpected. I do not know the people being touted as replacements but I know the president is talking with his inner caucus”, New Telegraph reported a top party official as saying.
Another official of the party, however, said Almakura and the immediate-past Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, are among the two being tipped for the position.
The former National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, tendered his resignation just 48 hours ago.
This newspaper learnt that although Tinubu initially adopted a more cautious approach and refrained from immediately attempting to oust Adamu after his inauguration, certain party leaders allegedly convinced former Osun State governor and Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, to obtain the president’s approval for Adamu’s prompt removal.
This development coincided with the freezing of all the ruling party’s bank accounts on the orders of the “Presidency,” which occurred days before Adamu’s exit. Consequently, the freezing of accounts is said to have impacted the settlement of advertising debts owed to various media houses that cover the party.
Yesterday, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who took over as the Acting National Chairman of the party, addressed the matter during a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.
He stated that the APC constitution accounted for such situations and outlined procedures for filling vacancies. Kyari affirmed that all vacancies in the NWC, including Adamu’s now-vacant seat, would soon be filled. He added that scheduled meetings of the National Caucus and the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, had been postponed.
“The NWC wishes to inform you of 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 All Progressive Congress APC, it is now incumbent on my humble self, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as the Deputy National Chairman, North, to assume the office of the acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC,” Kyari declared.
He further announced that Festus Fuanter, the Deputy National Secretary, would be acting National Secretary.
