APC crisis: Concern over potential NWC breakup

ABUJA—The All Progressives Congress’ National Secretariat experienced a wave of anxiety yesterday as a result of worries that the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, may be dissolved during today’s meeting of its National Executive Committee, NEC.

Some party officials warned that discussions at the caucus may result in the NWC’s removal when the NWC traveled to the State House yesterday for a meeting of the APC National Caucus under the leadership of Senator Abubakar Kyari, its Acting National Chairman.

The National Chairman, National Secretary, and National Vice Chairman, Northwest, recently resigned, leaving seven openings in the 25-member NWC.

A member of the NWC who talked with Vanguard claimed that one of his colleagues, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a supporter of the former National Chairman, was also leaving.

One of us was given a list of his crimes by anti-graft officials on Tuesday, and he was urged to retire, the NWC member stated. The NEC would find it quite difficult to ask everyone to leave at this point because some of our colleagues may not have been aware of what was going on.

“NEC will, however, exercise caution to avoid encountering the same problems we had with the Buni Caretaker Committee. There is concern that we might be disbanded, but once more, I think those who have acted improperly might be asked to leave by the time we address the issues before Caucus.

Apologies from Osinbajo

While simultaneously expressing regret for being unable to make it to the APC caucus meeting as scheduled, former vice president Yemi Osinbajo reaffirmed his dedication to the party yesterday.

The former vice president apologized in writing to the acting party chairman, stating that he had already left the country for previously-committed obligations when he got the invitation to the meeting.

According to a statement sent by the former vice president’s media office, “He had in fact canceled some of his activities abroad to be available for the two caucus meetings of the Party that were originally scheduled but had to be rescheduled owing to circumstances.

He expressed his loyalty to the Party and his availability for upcoming meetings and activities while wishing the APC productive deliberations.