The N32bn ‘final straw’ that led to the ouster of Adamu as APC chair

Reports packed by Fatai Ahmed

Abdullahi Adamu was asked to resign as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday after a prolonged cold war with President Bola Tinubu, TheCable understands.

The APC chairman was advised to throw in the towel by Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo state and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

Iyiola Omisore, the APC national secretary, allegedly became incommunicado upon getting wind of the development.

Party sources told TheCable that Adamu and Omisore were to face a vote of no confidence by NWC members on Monday afternoon following which they would be sacked by the national executive committee (NEC), chaired by Tinubu, on Wednesday.

There has been a cold war between Tinubu and Adamu since the former governor of Nasarawa state was elected party chairman in March 2022.

But the “final straw”, according to insiders, was Adamu’s failure to account for the N32 billion raised by the party from the sale of forms for the 2023 general election.

“Only N7 billion is left in the account as we speak,” an NWC member told TheCable.

“Adamu and Omisore claimed the account has been audited, but we are not aware of when the auditors were appointed. How can NWC not be aware of the appointment? It is part of our responsibilities to appoint auditors.”

Sensing the move to remove him, Adamu had reportedly sought the support of the chairmen of the state chapters of the party but received a cold shoulder.

“By the APC constitution, the proceeds were supposed to be shared with the zonal, state and ward levels of the party, and they were not in the know. So there was no way they were going to support him,” another party insider told TheCable.

ADAMU VS TINUBU: THE RETURN LEG

Before the N32 billion question became a bone of contention, Adamu’s exit appeared imminent.

While Tinubu supported Tanko Al Makura, also a former governor of Nasarawa state, for the position of national chairman, party leaders loyal to former President Muhammadu Buhari rooted for Adamu.

This was thought to be the first move to stop Tinubu from winning the party’s presidential ticket.

Ahead of the APC presidential primary in June 2022, Tinubu complained bitterly that he was being betrayed despite the fact that a gentleman’s agreement was sealed in 2015 for him to succeed Buhari.

His outburst, popularly known as “emi l’okan” (“it’s my turn”), enraged Adamu who threatened that the party would “discipline” him.

In the week of the primary, Adamu informed NWC members that Ahmad Lawan, then senate president, was Buhari’s preferred presidential candidate.

The move was met with protests and condemnation from some quarters, but he stood his ground.

Lawan, a latecomer to the race, polled 152 votes against Tinubu’s 1271.

Tinubu would go on to lose the presidential election in Nasarawa state, where Adamu was governor from 1999 to 2007.

“It was inevitable that Adamu would bite the dust,” the NWC member told TheCable.

“When the 10th national assembly was about to be inaugurated, it was the APC leadership that was supposed to work behind the scene for the leadership election. Adamu and Omisore were aloof. In fact, it was a known fact that Adamu was supporting Abdulaziz Yari.

“As if that was not enough, when the committee positions were announced, Adamu openly dissociated himself from the list. He had it coming.”

TheCable understands that when the issue of the N32 billion was presented to Tinubu, he gave the go-ahead for the party to remove him “legally”.

Uzodinma approached Adamu on Sunday and asked him to do the “needful” but he was unable to reach Omisore.

Meanwhile ,Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abubakar Kyari has taken over the leadership of the party on an acting basis following the resignation of the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.

Mr Kyari announced the resignation of Mr Adamu on Monday after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

The acting chairman, a former senator, while briefing journalists after the NWC meeting, said he was taking over based on the provision of the Constitution of the APC.

He announced that the National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, also resigned and has been replaced by the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, from Plateau State.

“With this development and according to the APC constitution, it is now incumbent on my humble self as the deputy chairman (North) to assume the office as the acting national chairman of the APC. And subsequently, also, the Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, will now assume the office of acting National Secretary,” he said.

Mr Kyari also announced the postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) earlier scheduled for 19 July.

He said: “With the recent development with the change of leadership, we would like to inform everybody here that the proposed National Caucus meeting slated for 18 July 2023 and the National Executive Council for 19 July 2023 are hereby postponed. This postponement would not be indefinitely, but a new date would be communicated.”

Mr Kyari did not give the reason for the resignation of Mr Adamu, but said it was a voluntary resignation.

However, Messrs Adamu and Omisore faced allegations of mismanagement of funds.

Salihu Mustapha, vice chairman (North-west), had accused the duo of mismanagement of funds.

Mr Adamu, 77, was the fourth national chairman of the APC since the party’s formation in 2013.

He was a senator representing Nasarawa West before his emergence, on consensus, as the national chairman of the ruling party in March 2022.

He also served as the Nasarawa State governor between 1999 and 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and minister of state for works during the military administration of Sani Abacha.

On his part, Mr Omisore is a former deputy governor of Osun State on the ticket of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and senator representing Osun East on the platform of the PDP.