APC chairmanship and Buhari’s men in the race

Before last week, there was growing scepticism in some circles in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) about the sincerity of interim national leadership to hold a convention. Some had insinuated a purported hidden plan by the leadership to railroad themselves to substantive national officers. But the announcement of February 2022 has rekindled hopes across board of an opportunity to elect a new executive that will succeed the Ma Buni-led interim leadership. The announcement has led to frenetic moves by chairmanship hopefuls, with their loyalists and foot soldiers lobbying major stakeholders in the party for their principals. Drawn from different backgrounds, each of the eight contenders for the position have a date with history in February, going by the ongoing intense scheming and politicking ahead of the convention. There are reports of consultations and discussions for possible alignment and re-alignment of forces by different forces ahead of the convention. Pundits are saying both internal and external factors might determine APC national chairmanship. In fact, one of the issues many are talking about is the possibility of integrity and transparency of the contestants, especially on their record of service at higher levels in both public and private capacities.  And so far, former governors, serving senators and other categories of high profile are in the race. The list includes: Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who served as the governor of Nasarawa State from May 29,1999 to May 29, 2007; and his successor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, between 2011 and 2019; as well as Senator George Akume, who is a former governor of Benue State and ex-Senate minority leader; he hails from Benue State. He is regarded as dogged fighter. The other contestant is Mohammed Sani Musa, the senator representing Niger East in the Senate; and Danjuma Goje, a former governor of Gombe State and also a Senator. Also in the race are Mallam Saliu Mustapha, a former governorship candidate and chieftain of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC); Ali Modu Sheriff, former governor of Borno State; and Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara State. Thus, some candidates are believed to have a record of being with President Muhammadu Buhari from his days in the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and now in APC. According to observers, these men may enjoy some degree of favour by their positions as the presidents’ men. Among those considered to be the president’s lieutenants are people who worked with him and believed in his vision from his days as an opposition politician struggling to win elections into the exalted seat that he now occupies. Among those jostling for the position, three candidates stand out as the President’s allies in ANPP through CPC and now APC. They are Tanko Al-Makura from Nasarawa State; Saliu Mustapha from Kwara State; and Muhammed Bello Mustapha from Taraba State.