THE GUARDIAN
The political landscape is not bereft of high-powered drama. From one party to the other, the infractions have been intriguing and melodramatic.
Two days ago, it was the Labour Party. Just as it happened some months ago with the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cracks in the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, widened after a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, Dr. Salihu Lukman, gave a one-week ultimatum to the national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, to render account on how he used over N30 billion of the party’s fund.
In September, last year, some NWC members of PDP had written to the party’s erstwhile chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, informing him of their decision to return the housing allowance paid into their accounts. The party’s crisis continued even after the general elections, culminating in Ayu’s removal from office last month in deference to a court order.
In similar vein, signs that the centre may no longer hold for long in the ruling party emerged yesterday when Lukman, who is the National Vice Chairman (Northwest), in an open letter to Adamu titled: ‘Restoring Constitutional Order in APC – Not Negotiable,’ claimed that mismanagement of over N30 billion were proceeds from the sale of nomination forms to aspirants that vied for various elective seats in the recently held general elections.
According to him, it was embarrassing that after one year in office, Adamu is yet to have a regular National Executive Council (NEC), National Caucus or National Advisory Council (NAC) meetings.
He further alleged that the functions of the aforementioned organs and the decisions expected from them based on the Constitution of the party had been usurped by Adamu, in consultation with the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, adding that the duo of Adamu and Omisore were running the APC NWC like their personal estate.
The Kaduna-born politician said he finds it very difficult to comprehend why APC is not holding meetings of party organs to facilitate smooth transition from the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari to the incoming administration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He alleged: “As a member of NWC, we have never had any session where we were invited to consider any report of activity in the last one year. Yet, Article 13.4(ii) of our Constitution require that the NWC submit quarterly reports to NEC. We have never deliberated on any financial report even when Article 13.4(iv) require that we present quarterly financial reports to NEC. We have never deliberated on a national budget although Article 13.3A(xiv) require that we present one to NEC and get approval.
