The stage is set for a fierce battle of titans next week as the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has been armtwisted, following a threat by a prominent member and National Vice Chairman, North-West, Dr. Salihu Lukman, to announce dates for its National Caucus, National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings.
Knowledgeable sources fear that unless a quick resort to a soft-landing is provided to save the face of the leadership as personified by its national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; and national secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the party may begin a battle that would scar it badly.
“The other option is to put up a veneer of respectability, have a good run of meeting, and then some person or persons begin to step aside. But I doubt this because some egos have been badly bruised; disloyalty openly displayed before, during and after the primaries; and political enemies made. It is payback time. We want to see how this can be navigated through, so let us keep our fingers crossed,” one source, who did not want his name in print, said.
Another simply said: ” Do you need to be told? Haven’t you been to the Secretariat lately? Can yyounot feel the tension in the peace of the graveyard here?
Recall that Lukman took the National NWC of the party to an Abuja High Court over its refusal to convene the NEC and National caucus meetings of the party, and gave Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the party’s National Chairman, an ultimatum of seven days to convene an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council.
His grouse is that there are anomalies within the ruling party that need to be resolved, warning that failure to summon the NEC meeting would make him seek a court injunction to enforce compliance in line with the provisions of APC Constitution.
The dates for the meetings were announced by Iyiola Omisore, the National Secretary of the party on Tuesday, in Abuja. He said, “Persuant to article 12.5 and 12.3, of the all Progressives Congress constitution, the National Working Committee (NWC) hereby calls for meeting of national Caucus, National Executive Committee of out great party.
“The Caucus meeting will take place on 10th July while the NEC meeting is scheduled for July 11th.
“Members of the National Caucus are by this invitation to take notice of the meeting in accordance with the article 12.5 of the All Progressives Congress.
“Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) are by this invitation to take notice of the meeting in accordance with the article 12.3 of the All Progressives Congress.