By Chesa Chesa
The obvious is that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has become the dominant political party in Nigeria right now. It is not difficult to see how it happened if one can recall how the party was able to snatch the presidency from the then governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015. There apparently is something the party is doing to grow its membership and following, and national leadership could just be it.
After quite a number of national chairman since the party’s formation in 2014, the mantle of leadership fell on the incumbent, former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on August 3rd, 2023 as ratified by the 12th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The lull that was the lot of the APC national secretariat before the emergence of Ganduje has evaporated, to the excitement of most party loyalists and members across the nation. This is despite initial pockets of opposition to his imminent chairmanship then. Notable among the minority voices was the immediate-past National Vice Chairman of the party in the North-west, Malam Salihu Moh Lukman, who voiced out that North-central zone of the party ought to produce the next national chairman after the exit of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who was from North-central too; just like Ajibola Basiru replaced Senator Iyiola Omisore from Osun state a d both from Southwest, as the APC National Secretary.
Besides, Ganduje emerged at a period when the public perception of the ruling party, despite its victory at the general elections, was of looking inspiring, especially with the leadership rancour that preceded him. Members of the party’s highest administrative organ, the National Working Committee (NWC) were operating at discordant wavelengths, and the morale of the staff of the party was sinking.
Nonetheless, a lot has happened since then to make Ganduje even more acceptable as he has continued to show that he is equal to the task of sustaining the party’s victory streak, and expanding its base of following, to the admiration of APC members. Indeed, they will gladly ululate that President Bola Tinubu made a good choice when he insisted on supporting Ganduje to lead the party.
Unfolding his agenda, the grassroot politicians revealed that he would among other objectives focus on uniting the party members and increasing political spread of APC for even better electoral fortunes. He said then that “as national chairman, I will lead with integrity, transparency, and a deep sense of responsibility. We are going to work tirelessly for a cohesive APC and a united, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria. It will be challenging but with dedication, I have confidence that we can achieve a prosperous APC.
“Our main focus will be promoting party unity and defending and increasing the number of executive and legislative seats we currently hold. Under my watch, internal democracy will be strictly adhered to with a deliberate policy to engage in wider consultations and make the party functional throughout the year.
“More reforms will be carried out in the party in alignment with the current political landscape. We all agreed that we must unite our members to achieve support for our government to respond adequately, urgently, and assertively to the challenges that Nigerians confront daily.”
True to his words, he waded into the disagreements among major stakeholders and chieftains. For instance, Ganduje intervened in the face-off between the late Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, (now the governor) Lucky Aiyedatiwa, with a reconciliation committee. Consequently, the threat of impeachments flying around then ceased and he legal battles were put in abeyance. Unfortunately, Akeredolu died to pave way for Aiyedatiwa to take over. But it is instructive that Ganduje’s intervention brought about peaceful transition of power to the Deputy Governor.
Ganduje has also intensified mobilisation of new members for the APC and has given old members a sense of belonging, especially at the grassroots. For instance, he inaugurated the national campaign teams for the just concluded November 11, 2023 governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states were held in the respective states instead of Abuja ,as was done in the past.
He further gave steam to the plan for an Institute of Progressives Studies where party members and upcoming leaders will be taught rudiments of government and what a progressive party stands for.
This is in addition to efforts to ensure that APC has functional offices in all the 8,813 wards across Nigeria. To give boost to this plan, Ganduje’s National Working Committee (NWC) has commenced the registration its over 40 million members electronically to consolidate its membership strength ahead of the 2027 general elections. On the occasion, he noted in the 2023 election, “we had several 41 million members. But during the presidential election, we had only eight million. What happened to the rest? This is why we need to be digital and ensure that we are working with the correct data”.
One of the most visible achievements of the APC chairman is his ability to sway opposition members to join his parry and work with him. This leadership acumen has netted big political fishes from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP) and the Youth Progressives Party (YPP).
Professor Rufai Alkali, former NNPP National Chairman led other leaders and members to APC. They include Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, NNPP’s former National organising Secretary and former National Legal Adviser, Prof. Ben Angwe along with many party supporters.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the lawmaker representing Anambra South Senatorial District dumped YPP for the ruling APC, saying that he had been impressed with the way the party was. Wing run and achievements recorded by the Tinubu administration so far. Similarly, Senator Uche Ekwunife defected from the PDP to the APC in Anambra State as another fulfilment of Ganduje’s promise to strengthen the APC base and acceptability, especially in the Southeast region of the country.
Just last month, 27 House of Assembly members in Rivers State defected to the APC, this strengthening the party’s chances at future elections, like Ganduje promised.
Even beyond the shores of Nigeria, Ganduje leadership of the APC has been noted with admiration and endorsement. He recently received a courtesy visit from the chairman and a delegation of the Ghana’s ruling party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP). “As a party, we have a lot to learn from Ganduje as an individual, and from the APC as a political party”, said Stephen Ntim, Ghana’s NPP National Chairman during the visit to Nigeria.
These testaments are pointers to what Ganduje is doing right. Of course, a lot more is expected as he consolidates this 2024. If what is seen so far from the Buhari House headquarters of the APC is used to measure expectations, the. APC members can be hopeful of better days as Ganduje has shown the steps that he has walked and will continue to walk his talk.
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