Universal Reporters correspondent in Nasarawa state, in this special report analysis the unavoidable mistakes of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Abdullahi Adamu that have placed the party on the war part following the adoption of a fake delegate list in the last party primaries.
A few months before the conduct of the 2023 general election, the dust raised during and after the primaries of the ruling, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa state is yet to settle, following the mass defection of movers and shakers of the party described outcome of the party primaries as an avenue to settle scores between the two erstwhile governors, now the national chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and a serving senator, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
The recent booing of the National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu during a campaign rally in Toto local government and the defection of a grass root mobilizer in the locality, a one-time member of the federal House of Representative, Arc Ibrahim Ja’afar Mohammed, a governorship aspirant of the APC in 2019 gubernatorial race to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is a clear indication of a landslide victory to the PDP.
The recent verdict of the Appeal Court in Abuja reinstating Arc. Shehu Tukur as the sole candidate of APC in Nasarawa west is another factor that may consume the state governor who is seeking reelection for the second term, Bar Labaran Magaji, one of the contestants is a grass root mobilizer for the APC, the question that remained unanswered is, will Magaji approach a supreme court in search of Justice?
Some opinion shapers are of the view that the candidate of the SDP, Ahmed Aliyu Wadada may have a soft landing to beat his opponent in the PDP, Umar Galadima who is warming up to occupy the vacant senate seat.
In Nasarawa north senatorial zone, which is the governor’s local government, it is indeed another hot zone for the ruling party, the chances of the All-Progressives Congress are hanging in the balance, the reason being that the governor is left alone to face persons like the former minister of Information, Labaran Maku, retired general Nuhu Angbazo, a gubernatorial aspirant in 2023 election, the likes of Solomon Ewuga.
The PDP in Nasarawa state, from the unfolding, is more united than the APC, the ruling party was plunged into skirmishes either between the incumbent Senator representing Nasarawa north, Godiya Akwashiki, and Danladi Halilu Emvulanza, who is the flag bearer of the party in 2023 general election, again the defection of Hon Muhammed Muluku, a third time member of the NSHA from Nasarawa Eggon East to the opposition, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is another factor that may consume Engineer Sule and the party.
In Nasarawa south senatorial zone, the turf is between Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, the immediate past governor and incumbent senator representing the zone and the two term member House of Representatives and former speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo.
The former governor, Tanko Al-Makura may not have it easy with the reaction of other tribes like Eggons, Tiv who formed an alliance to vote massively for the PDP candidate as senator Onawo and he is having a better chance with the recent booing of Senator Al-Makura in Keana and the stripping of a chieftain of the APC, Alhaji Abubakar Giza, the Ciroman Giza.
Unconfirmed sources revealed that Abu Giza is secretly campaigning for Ogoshi Onawo, attributing the support of Onawo as the crux of the matter, questions remained unanswered is whether senator Al-Makura will experience a safer campaign within Keana and Giza axis, it is left to be seen, this is because the maxim whom the cap fits, all the side-by-side lacuna have an adverse effect on the reelection of senator Al-Makura.
Also, the recent defection of the majority leaders of the NSHA, Hon Tanko Tunga , representing Awe north constituency, other pockets of crisis ravaged the party in Obi, Nasarawa local government, Udege-Loko and Kokona East constituency which is the state party Chairman constituency, In Kokona ,the state Chairman of the party, Hon John Mamman is at war with the former commissioner for youth and sports development, Hon Bamaiyi Anangba , who hails from the same community, Dari electoral ward.
It could be recalled that the party setting up of a reconciliation committee headed by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Shehu Liman, the committee is nothing if not a mere window dressing, onlookers are of the view that there is a need for the national chairman of the ruling party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to bury their hatchet for the interest of the party, not an individual interest by working assiduously for the landslide victory of the APC at all levels, but the reverse is the case.
With the unfolding, the ruling party in the state will experience anti-party, left, right, and center because the aftermath of the party primaries and the defection of key players in Nasarawa APC, the governor is yet to see the handwriting on the wall that his chances of returning to the seat of power come 2023 hang on the balance, some political actors in the state described the riot act read to political appointees and elected officials of the APC fold ignited mixed reactions as the governor pointed accusing fingers on card-carrying members paying allegiance to other politicians not him as an insult, Engineer Sule further told them to be submissive to him alone or quit service
Feelers revealed that maybe it could be as a result of the political fraternity that has been existing for sometimes that makes them be loyal to successive leaders of the party, these and amongst other reasons make party loyalists obedient to their master especially those that worked for Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, some of the defectors and aggrieved contestants are of the view the national chairman is a sale out, whose emergence was to wreak havoc instead of mending the falling walls.
The APC should be seen as a united and strong party in Nasarawa state, the home state of senator ,Abdullahi Adamu, Indeed, the state never had it so good under the new leadership headed by Abdullahi Adamu, likewise, the former governor, Tanko Al-Makura whose vision and desire to exploit the potentials of the state and who saw the need to work hard to bring governor Sule administration in the past three years, the immediate past governor can prove the mettle of his capabilities to deliver.
With the momentous initiatives and achievements recorded by governor Sule’s administration to forestall peace in the party, political analysts are of the opinion that the Governor should wake up from his slumber because much needed to be done, or else the party will taste the bitter pills of defeat come March when the governorship election holds in Nasarawa state and other parts of the country.
Therefore, it’s of utmost significance, that these leaders, come together, to work for the unity of the party at home, before replicating such overture across the length and breadth of the country.
Since the coming into power of the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, Nasarawa State has always played a key role in the activities of the ruling party, no wonder, the state is always referred to as the political laboratory of President Buhari, as well as his second home. the state under the leadership of the former governor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura provided the impetus for the then Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), founded in 2009 as a political platform for President Buhari ahead of the 2011 presidential election, to participate in the alliance which led to the birth of the APC.
Senator Al-Makura played a critical role in the negotiations and subsequent formation of the APC, being the only CPC governor, as well as the only governor to host the maiden meeting of the Progressive Governors Forum, in Lafia.
Through deliberate and carefully executed political strategies, Senator Al-makura ensured that the APC in Nasarawa State grew from strength to strength, taking over affairs of the state assembly and dominating the political terrain of the state. A party that could only boast of four lawmakers in 2011, expanded gradually to not only take over the state assembly but also the national seats in the state.
From 2015 till date, Nasarawa State has continued to feature prominently in the activities of the ruling APC not until now that the party is facing a gale of defections on daily basis, though the decision of the president in rooting for Senator Adamu to become the national chairman of the party, was least expected, considering that Senator Al-Makura was not only the anointed candidate for the national assignment but was endorsed by the party at the state level.
The APC in the state appears to be at a crossroads, particularly after the recently concluded party primary elections. the strong and united APC that was inherited by Engineer Abdullahi Sule underwent hubris, which threw the party in disarray.
The infraction gravitated from grievances arising from the just concluded party primary elections, unwarranted doctoring of the official delegates list sent to the national secretariat is capable of breeding disaffections and tensions in the party leading to a mass exodus of people that matter in the political space of Nasarawa west senatorial district.
The attempt by the state chapter of the APC to save the situation was misinterpreted to mean antagonizing the newly elected national chairman of the APC and a former governor of the state.
Following the outcome of the primaries, some notable members of the party like Arc. Ibrahim Ja’afar Mohammed , a governorship aspirant in the 2019 election, Senator Godiya Akwashiki, Hon Gaza Jonathan Gbwefi, Hon Sarki Dahiru, both members of the House of Representatives, as well as Hon Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, a two-term member of the House of Representatives and guber aspirant during the 2019 election, left the party citing irregularities in the conduct of the primaries.
Others are Hon.Mohammed Aga Muluku representing Nasarawa Eggon East constituency who also joined the SDP, also Hon.Tanko Tunga from Awe north constituency jumped ship to the SDP, the APC so far lost one senator from Nasarawa Eggon North, two members of the House of Representatives, Hon Sarki Dahiru and Jonathan Gbwefi and two House of Assembly members Hon.Muhammed Muluku from Nasarawa Eggon East and Tanko Tunga from Awe north defected from APC to SDP.
