Lukman accused Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of the APC, of acting as a faction leader and opposing the allocation decisions approved by the National Working Committee (NWC) following consultations with President Bola Tinubu.

Previously, the APC supported Abbas and Benjamin Kalu, the newly elected representative for Imo, as its candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, causing discontent among other candidates.

ALSO READ:  10th NASS: Tinubu, APC To Reconsider Zoning

Adamu, on the other hand, has discouraged supporters and legislators from alluding to Abbas as the incoming Speaker of the House of Representatives, citing ongoing discussions with other candidates and legislative stakeholders.

Lukman is persuaded that Adamu and a few others intend to replicate the fractious leadership style of 2015 in the forthcoming tenth National Assembly, based on their "rigorous ethnic Northern arguments."

The vice chairman of the party expressed his grievances in a statement titled "APC and Transition Politics" and issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

The controversy arises just thirteen days before the election of the Senate and House of Representatives' chief officers.

Lukman said, 

“Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, instead of acting as the National Chairman, facilitating implementation of decisions of organs of the party, is acting as a factional leader opposing the decision of the NWC. Instead of working for the success of the decision of the NWC through activating meetings of higher organs of the party to confer more legitimacy to the decision of the NWC, he seems to be more interested in ensuring that the 2015 model of rebellious leadership emerge in the 10th National Assembly.”

 

ALSO READ: 10th NASS: Akpabio's Kinsmen Warn Elements Pressuring APC Regarding Zoning Arrangement.

In addition, Lukman expressed concern that the party is'suffocating' as a result of Adamu and the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, obstructing all party organ meetings with the exception of the NWC.

Lukman lamented,

“When APC and Asiwaju won the 2023 elections, the structures of the party were blocked from functioning to allow for wider internal democratic consultations, debates and contestations using the legitimate structures provided in the constitution of the party to facilitate internal negotiations to zone leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

“Practically, in a manner that is nothing more than suspending the constitution of the party, the National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, supported by the National Secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore have blocked all organs of the party from meeting, except the NWC. In the case of the NWC, it is more a case of spoon-feeding members with convenient information. And where challenged as was the case with the court case aimed at restoring constitutional order in the party, the National Legal Adviser, Barr. Ahme d El-Marzuq become handy with spurious legal interpretations, which are anything but legal, bereft of any logic.”

 

 

ALSO  READ:  10th NASS: After Tinubu's meeting with Kwankwaso in Paris, Sani Musa may be considered for Deputy Senate President.

This dispute between Lukman and the national chairman of the APC is just the most recent in a yearlong succession of disagreements within the party's leadership.