₦airaland Forum

There are strong indications that two power
blocs within the All Progressives Congress
are now engaged in a fierce battle for the
soul of the party.
Saturday PUNCH’s investigations on Friday
revealed that the battle between the two
power blocs to control the party: one led by
Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and the other led by
former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, played
out during Tuesday’s National Assembly
leadership elections.
The ruling party’s preferred candidates in
both the Senate and the House of
Representatives were defeated by party
members who contested the elections against
the wishes of the party.
The battle for supremacy between the two
power blocs led to the emergence of the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s
candidate, Ike Ekweremadu, as the Deputy
Senate President.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that both Atiku and
Tinubu were desperate to have maximum
control over the party structure so that party
decisions could favour them at all times.
It was learnt that the two blocs wanted their
candidates to emerge principal officers of the
National Assembly since that would
automatically qualify their candidates to
become members of the party’s National
Executive Committee, which is the highest
decision arm of the party.
Senator Bukola Saraki emerged the President
of the Senate at a time when leading figures
of the party including Tinubu, Chief Bisi
Akande and APC Senators as well as
members of the House of Representatives
were waiting for President Muhammadu
Buhari at the International Conference Centre
for a crucial meeting.
The party’s NWC earlier held a shadow
election in which Senators Ahmad Lawan and
George Akume emerged as the party’s
candidates for Senate President and Deputy
Senate President respectively.
But, Atiku, Saturday PUNCH learnt that Atiku
was never in support of the mock election
believed to be spearheaded by the APC
national leader as the former Vice President
was bent on breaking Tinubu’s influence on
the party’s NWC.
As things stand, most of the current members
of the APC’s National Working Committee are
Tinubu’s loyalists.
With the outcome of the National Assembly
leadership elections, there are strong
indications that the Tinubu camp, which
many agree, boasts of the likes of Lawan and
Akume are not prepared to let the matter
rest.
Sources said the Tinubu camp, though still
jolted by its initial ‘defeat’ would likely spring
a surprise in the days ahead.
It was gathered that members of the Senators
Unity Forum, who supported the party’s
candidates are queuing behind Tinubu and
are likely to continue to do so in the days to
come.
It was learnt that in supporting the
aspirations of Saraki and Dogara, Atiku had
argued that democracy could better be served
when the principle of internal democracy is
respected.
It was further learnt that Saraki’s publicised
visit to Atiku’s residence a few hours after his
emergence, was part of the power play.
By virtue of their new positions as Senate
President and Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Saraki and Dogara, have
become automatic members of the National
Executive Committee, the highest decision
making body of the party.
Their positions also confer on them
automatic membership of the party’s Board
of Trustees and National Executive
Committee.
A leading member of the party’s NWC, who
confided in Saturday PUNCH, explained that
the unfolding scenario is likely to open up
new frontiers in the power struggle within the
party.
According to him, decisions at NEC from now
on will be keenly contested by the two power
blocs.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the outcome of
the National Assembly elections would likely
affect decisions to be taken on ministerial
nominees as some of the candidates in
Tinubu’s camp may be rejected during
screening by the Saraki/Atiku group.
He said, “It is obvious that with what
happened on Tuesday at the National
Assembly, two (dominant) power blocks have
emerged in the party.
“We hope to heal the wounds created by the
contests, but there is mutual suspicion
between the two groups.”
When contacted, the Director-General of the
Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe, said, “Atiku
did not orchestrate the emergence of the new
leadership in the National Assembly and
insinuating that amounts to nothing but
political mischief, as he had refused to leave
the party or work for the PDP even when the
then President Jonathan was desperate for
Atiku’s support.
“The visits of politicians and APC leaders
including that of the Senate President are
common political rituals in Atiku’s Asokoro
residence. For the purposes of emphasis, the
President has confidence in him and that
explains why he had drafted him as an envoy
of sorts in the race leading up to the
emergence of a Nigerian President of African
Development Bank.
“It is baseless and unfounded to suggest that
Atiku conspired with the PDP or Saraki to
‘sabotage’ the APC. He would have
congratulated Senator Ahmed Lawan (or any
other leader) if he had won. It is simplistic to
attribute conspiratorial agenda to an
innocuous congratulatory visit.
“Atiku’s loyalty to his party is indisputable.
He remains a loyal party member. He, in fact,
threw his political assets behind the Buhari
presidential campaign. Any suggestion that
he conspired with Saraki or anybody is the
figment of someone’s imagination.”
Attempts to get a reaction from Tinubu’s
Spokesperson, Mr. Sunday Dare, were
unsuccessful.
Calls to his mobile phone at 5:21pm and at
7:14pm were neither picked nor returned. A
response to a text message was still being
awaited as of the time of filing this report at
7:24pm.
But, a member of Saraki’s Like Minds group
of Senators, Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South),
said Saraki’s emergence, has no negative
implication for party cohesion.
He said, “We are already reaching out to
everyone. At the leadership level, we are
reaching out to individuals.
“The Senate President is a very generous
Nigerian with a very large heart. He has
already extended his hands of fellowship to
every senator and he has assured us all that
he would carry everybody along. It is not
going to be a case of winner-takes-all.”
Also, a member of the Senate Unity Forum,
Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central),
said the party leadership is currently working
tirelessly to ensure that the party remains a
formidable and united entity.
The South East Zonal Spokesperson for the
APC, Osita Okechukwu, said the party was
seeking ways of moving forward.
According to him, it will be futile to begin to
apportion blame and look for scapegoats
because doing so will provide an avenue for
those who do not wish the APC well to cash
in.
He said party leaders deserve the respect of
all party members, adding that if the wise
counsel of President Muhammadu Buhari for
non-interference in National Assembly issues
was adhered to, the party would not have
found itself in this situation. He, however,
said it was time to move on.
Okechukwu said, “It is the desire of our
opponents for there to be a rift but there is
no rift. As a party, the only thing we need
now, more than ever before, is unity.
“We need to unite especially in the National
Assembly to be able to deliver on our
promises to the Nigerian people. I dare say,
we also need bi-partisan support if we are to
get things done because we need each
other.”




http://www.punchng.com/news/atiku-tinubu-fight-to-control-apc/

Okay it's expected

Ndi Igbo Kwenu! Yeah. Una no dey APC agenda ooo. When the Biafra dey come nah??

Tydies:
Ndi Igbo Kwenu! Yeah. Una no dey APC agenda ooo. When the Biafra dey come nah??

sit down dey wait

just send this two men to Western Germany so that we can rest in this country

Let dem go ahead nd hang themselves, who cares

What! Thats terrible.. Who will win?

tinubu will certainly lose.