Avoid repeat of 2015 NASS leadership tussle, Adamu tells APC

The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Monday evening, warned senators-elect and House of Reps-elect that the National Working Committee of the party would not allow a repeat of the National Assembly leadership tussle that created ‘bad blood’ among lawmakers and the executives.

Adamu said this while reading the riot act in his speech at the parley of the APC National Working Committee.

In attendance include the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vice President-elect; Senator Kashim Shettima; Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Senator Godswill Akpabio and members-elect of the National Assembly.

The development comes a few days after disgruntled members of the NWC called for the reformation of the party and his resignation to balance the contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket, ahead of the incoming administration.

In his speech, Adamu admitted that the ‘civilian coup’ executed by the duo of Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara to emerge as Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker in 2015 is still haunting the ruling party.

According to him, the unfortunate incident created a series of bad blood and open confrontations between the legislators and the presidency.

This is even as he warned that the NWC would no longer take a back seat and watch a repeat of the scenario following renewed agitations for the Senate presidency, Speaker for House of Reps and other principal offices to be zoned to certain blocs.

He said, “The news media and especially the social media are full of speculations of some of you jostling for leadership positions in the National Assembly. This is not unusual. People have the right to struggle for positions of leadership for which they believe they are eminently qualified. But we, in the NWC of the party, are not comfortable with the tone adopted by those who seek those offices. Those offices are not tribal or sectional rights and must not be so portrayed.

“Some of you may recall what happened to the party and the National Assembly in 2015 when some members of the national legislature chose not to wait for the decision of the president and the party in sharing those offices. It created bad blood within the party and between the executive and the legislature. I urge us not to regress.

Adamu noted that leadership positions at the national level are delicate and should not be approached with levity or lack of seriousness.

“The elections at the national level are over. We are now in the critical phase of forming a government. It is a tough phase because whatever we decide from this moment will make or mar the new administration,” he said.

He also encouraged Tinubu and his running mate to brace up for the challenges ahead.

“The president-elect and the party leadership will make appropriate consultations in working out a formula for sharing those offices. I assure you that whatever sharing formula the Party and the President-elect arrives at will be fair, just, equitable and satisfy the majority of our members.

“For the President-elect and Vice-President elect, the task ahead of you is huge, even frightening. This is the time for you and the party to gird your loins and focus on hitting the ground running from May 29, 2023. I know you are men with purpose. I know that you are driven by the love of the people and the country in seeking this exalted office,” he stated.