How purported plan by Buhari’s men to dominate incoming NWC will affect Tinubu’s ambition

After several postponements, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) will finally hold its national convention today in Abuja. Ahead of the event, various blocs that formed the party in 2013 have been scheming to have their men occupy key positions in the incoming National Working Committee (NWC).

Recall that the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party ANPP and two other parties collapsed to form APC in 2013.

Prior to the appointment of Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) in June 2020, the NWC of the party has been majorly dominated by loyalists of former Lagos Governor and Presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who belongs to the ACN bloc. Past national chairmen of the party like Bisi Akande, John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole are believed to have been nominated by him.

However, loyalists of President Muhammadu Buhari, in a deft political move, are planning to dominate the incoming NWC of the party. The president and his loyalists are part of the CPC bloc of APC. The president has reportedly nominated former Nasarawa state Governor, Abdullahi Adamu for the national chairman position.

Meanwhile, the report claims his loyalists in the CPC are trying to establish their foothold in the Southwest by nominating candidates for NWC positions zoned to the region. The CPC wing in APC has reportedly nominated a former Senator, Tokunbo Afikuyomi for the position of National vice chairman (Southwest).

According to the report, Afikuyomi was an ally of Tinubu. He however pitched his tent with the CPC wing of APC after Tinubu preferred another candidate to occupy the National Vice chairman (Southwest) position. Also, the nomination of Senator Iyiola Omisore for the national secretary position by Southwest Governors may be threatened as a last minute development showed the president had signed off on Ife Oyedele, a loyalist of the CPC.

Going by this development, the presidential ambition of Tinubu may be affected. The plan of the president and his loyalists in the CPC to dominate the NWC may make it easier to influence who succeeds the president. Tinubu is believed not to be favourably disposed by the president to succeed him.