Controversy Surrounds Alleged Resignation of APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu
On Sunday, the alleged resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), became the center of intense controversy. While some sources confirmed the resignation, others dismissed it as a mere rumor.
As of press time, The PUNCH could not officially verify the alleged resignation, and conflicting information was provided by top APC chieftains contacted by correspondents. This development comes just two days before the crucial National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings of the party.
A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the resignation to a correspondent on Sunday night. However, the timing and details of Adamu’s resignation remained unverified, although it was said to have been prompted by President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
It was reported that Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State delivered Adamu’s resignation letter to President Tinubu. The alleged resignation was attributed to Adamu’s failure to support Tinubu’s presidential aspirations ahead of the party’s convention.
When contacted for clarification, the APC spokesman, Felix Mouka, did not respond to calls or messages. Bala Ibrahim, the party’s Director of Publicity, also stated that he could neither confirm nor deny the development.
The PUNCH reached out to former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, who promised to provide information but had not fulfilled that pledge at the time of filing the report.
A source within the NWC expressed disappointment with Adamu’s action, stating that he did not deem it necessary to address the committee members before submitting his resignation letter. The source revealed that Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Deputy National Chairman for the North, would assume an acting capacity as per the party’s constitution.
The claim made by the NWC member could not be independently confirmed by The PUNCH, nor could it be verified if Kyari would chair the upcoming meeting.
Furthermore, it was gathered that the governors had urged Adamu to resign to avoid being removed at the upcoming National Executive Committee meeting. Despite reluctance, Adamu reportedly yielded to the overwhelming decision of the governors.
A close source to the APC chairman refuted the resignation rumors, stating that some individuals were pressuring him to step down.
In the past, Adamu had thrown his support behind then-President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, as the party’s consensus candidate for the presidential convention. However, his move was hindered by APC governors who reportedly informed President Buhari that they were not involved in Adamu’s plot against Tinubu.
Adamu clarified in an interview that he did not support Tinubu’s ambition and dismissed rumors of differences between him and the president. He also stated that he was misrepresented regarding his stance on the National Assembly’s elected principal officers.
Adamu had faced criticism from the North-West National Vice Chairman of the party, Salihu Lukman, who accused him of running the APC without considering the NWC’s input. Lukman expressed concerns about the chairman’s unilateral decision-making.
While the news of Adamu’s potential resignation spread, the National Youth Leader of the APC, Dayo Israel, labeled it as “fake news” on his Twitter handle. Although he did not specify the report, most responses from his followers were related to the resignation rumor.
Discussion about this post