Politics
APC Leadership Tussle: N’Central Forum Frowns At Gov Sule’s Support For Ganduje
The North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has condemned the endorsement of the embattled National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, by the Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum and Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule.
Speaking with newsmen on Saturday at the forum’s headquarters in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, said the courtesy visit Governor Sule paid to the party secretariat in Abuja on Friday to pledge his support for Dr Ganduje was for selfish and personal interest and not the interest of the North Central region, the APC or the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The chairman said such endorsement by Governor Sule, which came at a time when the party stakeholders from the region were pushing for the return of the National Chairmanship position to the North Central, was not only insensitive and mischievous, but also an act of betrayal of the entire region.
Alhaji Zazzaga, who was also a member of the Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 election, pointed out that Governor Sule was well aware that the National Chairmanship position, according to the party arrangement and zoning, ought to be for the North Central after the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who is not only from the North Central region but also from Governor Sule’s own state of Nasarawa.
For Governor Sule to openly come out and betray his state and the entire region shows that he is someone who is not after the progress of his own state, the North Central region, and he is not a man of equity and justice, Alhaji Zazzaga stressed.
He also alleged that, from the outset, Governor Sule did not support President Tinubu and did everything to halt his emergence as the APC presidential candidate, because he (Governor Sule) was nursing a vice presidential ambition with another APC presidential candidate.
“Governor Sule is not a founding member of the APC because he came in along the line, and so he does not understand the progressive ideology and drive of the party.
“That is why he is doing things that are contrary to the concept of the party stakeholders, chieftains, bigwigs and members, as well as supporters.
“Besides we all know that in the 2023 election, the APC in Nasarawa State didn’t perform satisfactorily under Governor Sule; this is obvious in the number of the legislative seats that were won by the party and as well as the ones the opposition parties clinched.
“It is also a known fact that Governor Sule didn’t do well also at the 2023 polls, and if not for the judiciary which upheld his election, anything could have happened and APC would have lost the state.
“By and large, what has been Governor Sule’s contribution to the progress of the APC since he joined the party? Again, what has been his development indices and strides in Nasarawa State? With the increase in allocation gotten by the states today, what has Nasarawa State been able to do or has to show under Governor Sule?
“And time and again, we have had grumblings in many quarters about the leadership style of Governor Sule in the state which many frown upon.
“Therefore, he is not a good ambassador of the party and he is, by no means, in a position to speak for the North Central region or stakeholders of the party,” he said.
Alhaji Zazzaga, therefore, called on all the North Central governors to disassociate themselves from Governor Sule’s endorsement of Dr Ganduje immediately, stressing that whatever he was doing was for his selfish interest and not the interest of the North Central region.
“Moreover, we all know that Governor Sule is not a firm supporter of President Bola Tinubu, and he will do anything to bring his administration to dispute, and endorsing Ganduje is one of such, since Ganduje has already incurred legal liabilities and other disaffections for the party as the National Chairman.
“And even the Edo and Ondo elections, which Ganduje’s leadership produced the APC flag bearers, could be another mistake as he lacked the legitimacy to do that as his position is being contested and unrecognized. And so his action in Edo and Ondo could be another future legal liability,” he added.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
As the news of the defection of 17 members of Rivers State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP )to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to make the rounds, a cross section of Rivers people who spoke to The Tide have expressed varying views regarding the development.
At Etche, a senior lecturer with the Rivers State University, who did not want his name in print, said even though defection was the right of politicians, peace and stability remained more fundamental than any action that could further challenge the fragile political situation in the state at the moment.
He also warned that the situation should not be used to witch-hunt any one, adding that the state had suffered enough and needed to be at peace.
In his reaction, Engr Polycarp Geoffrey said even though citizens and residents of the state had cause to be concerned about the decision of the lawmakers, there was nothing to worry about if it was done in good faith.
“I don’t think there is any big deal about it – defection is defection. But people are worried because of past events in the state. So, for me, I don’t see anything about it”, he said.
Engr Geoffrey also urged the Governor Siminalayi Fubara to also openly declare political affiliation in a bid to douse the political tension in the state and to provide clarity regarding his future political direction.
Another respondent, Mr Ebere Alex, alleged ulterior motive behind the law makers’ defection but urged both the law makers and the governor to work for the peace and development of the state.
However, speaking on the development, a chieftain of the PDP in the state, Hon Nname Ewor, told The Tide that said his party would reach out to the remaining lawmakers who have not defected.
He also denied an alleged internal squabble within the PDP, adding that there was no crisis in the party.
It would be recalled that 17 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, during plenary last Friday, announced their migration from the PDP to the APC, citing internal party crisis.
Other members who also defected were the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Dumle Maol, representing Gokana Constituency; House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, representing Akulga Constituency 1 and Deputy Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart, representing Okrika Constituency; Hon. Solomon Wami, Port Harcourt Constituency 1 and Hon Granville Tekena Wellington representing Asari Toru Constituency 1; Hon. Ofiks Kagbang, representing Andoni Constituency; Hon. Peter Abbey representing Degema Constituency; Hon. Arnold Dennis representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency; Hon. Chimezie Nwankwor representing Etche Constituency 2 and Hon. Franklin Nwabochi representing Onelga Constituency 1.
The rest were, Hon. Azeru Opara, representing Port Harcourt Constituency 3; Hon. Smart Adoki representing Port Harcourt Constituency 2; Hon. Igwe Afforji ,Eleme Constituency and Hon. Lolo Opuende representing Akuku Toru Constituency 2.
By: John Bibor
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