On June 6, 2022, there was a failed civil Coup D’ etat in Nigeria’s political arena by the All Progressive Congress Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Abdulahi against the person of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT).
On the said day, the ruling APC Chairman single handedly announced the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan as the consensus candidate for the presidential primary election of the All Progressive Congress. There is no doubt that this announcement was shocking to the National Working Committee (NWC) members of party.
Immediately, members of the party’s NWC and the Northern Governors elected under the party openly disassociated themselves from being part of this civil Coup D’etat and went ahead to issue statement against such and made clear their intentions of power shift from the Northern to Southern part of Nigeria. The action of the APC governors has placed the APC Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Abdulahi into a perpetual Hall of Shame.
Before the announcement came into public domain, the party’s delegates were already in the venue of the election, the Eagle Square, Abuja in preparation to elect the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2023 general election.
Although, there was an earlier attempt to arrive at a consensus candidate for the ruling party, but such arrangement was fruitless since the aspirants did not agree on one candidate as their flag bearer for the presidential election.
On June 8, 2022 when the election of APC presidential primary took place and results collated, the APC Chairman’s announced consensus candidate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan scored 152 votes occupying 4th position on election result ladder, while Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu scored 1271, which is higher than all the votes scored by the other twelve aspirants in the election by party’s delegates.
The action of the Northern Governors has prevented the party an undiluted failure in the 2023 presidential election. The big challenge facing the Jagaban is the choice of his Vice. The Jagaban winning or losing of the presidential election will solely depend on the choice of his running mate.
I wish the Jagaban and the Turaki best of luck in their aspiration and hope that whoever emerges will render selfless services to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe and religion.
– Professor Okike wrote from Abuja, Nigeria.
