The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday raised a five-member committee to wade into the crisis of confidence among top members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Its term of reference is to reconcile National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu and National Secretary Iyiola Omisore with the National Vice Chairman (North), Salihu Lukman.
Other members of the panel headed the Deputy Chairman (North), Abubakar Kyari, are Deputy National Chairman (South) Emma Eneukwu, National Vice Chairman (South East) Ijeomah Arodiogbu, and National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka.
The decision to set up the committee was taken at the ‘informal’ meeting of the NWC at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
Four days ago, Lukman had in a statement titled; “APC and Questions of Progressive Credentials” complained that the NWC had rendered other party organs prostrate since assuming office last year.
He alleged that but for the NWC, no statutory organ of the party has been made to function in line with the constitution of the party, adding that one of the major organs, the National Advisory Council (NAC), was yet to be constituted.
The former Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) lamented that the Adamu-led NWC has continued to commit the same fundamental infractions that led to the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomole-led NWC in 2020.
These include the refusal to convene the National Executive Council (NEC), hold the National Caucus meetings, give quarterly financial reports to the NEC and inaugurate the Board of Trustees (BOT), now christened the National Advisory Council (NAC).
Concerned party members had risen swiftly to wade into the crisis to prevent its escalation. Their resolve culminated in the setting up of the reconciliation panel.
A member of the committee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it will with Senator Adamu and Senator Omisore.
It was also gathered that the committee had met with Lukman for almost two hours yesterday, where he reiterated his allegations against the chairman and secretary.
He said,
“We have set up a five-man committee to wade into the crisis, look into the allegations raised to essentially see how it can be mitigated. We are aware that allowing it to fester further, boil down to opening flanks at the end of the day, which if not plucked, may put the party in jeopardy.
“That it even degenerated to this extent is a confirmation of leadership failure of our party. No duration limit was given to the committee, but they were charged to thoroughly investigate and find an amiable solution to the crisis. We want to see how it can be resolved in an atmosphere that can give every aggrieved person comfort.”
He added,
“Such a situation could worsen, especially when the issue is an internal battle involving members of the NWC.
“I am also aware that Salihu Lukman has tabled his minimum demands that things must be run in accordance with the constitution of the party and that accountability must not be compromised again. They also know that Lukman is a person you cannot ignore or you do so at your own peril.”
