Indications have emerged that the endorsement of former Nasarawa state Governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the consensus candidate for the national championship position of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) may not have gone down well with Governors elected on the platform of the party.
The ruling party will conduct its national convention where new set of National Working Committee (NWC) members will be elected towards the end of this month.
To avoid a rancour free contest for the position of national chairman, reports claims President Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed Senator Adamu among the pack of candidates jostling for the party’s chairmanship position.
However, a Governor who spoke to the Nation newspaper claims most of his colleagues do not want the imposition of Adamu as the national chairman of the party. He said his colleagues want an open contest where members of the party will decide who becomes the next national chairman of the party.
It is highly unlikely that, that will happen. There is no mode of selecting candidates during primary election of political parties that is free from misuse. Even the direct and indirect system has been abused by politicians to achieve their gain. I however think if the consensus option will be adopted, it should be done through negotiations and consultations.
The battles ahead
Unless a compromise is reached between the Governors and the president, there is likely going to be a battle ahead over who will be the national chairman of the APC.
Considering how main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conducted a rancour free convention, I think the ruling party will be eager to do the same to prove it can manage its internal crisis well. There president is likely going to meet with other leaders in the party to state why Adamu is the best choice for the position of national chairman.