APC National Chairman, Adamu and Deputy National Chairman, Kyari, left the Senate on Tuesday.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Abubakar Kyari, have formally resigned their membership of the Senate.
The resignation letters of Adamu and Kyari were read at plenary today (Tuesday) by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan. Both left the senate to concentrate on their new assignments for their party, the APC>
Before their emergence as APC leaders, both Adamu and Kyari represented Nasarawa West and Borno North Senatorial districts of Nasarawa and Borno States, respectively.
Lawan also announced the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s invitation to members of the Senate, APC to his official residence, Aguda House.
Adamu and Kyari were elected National chairman and deputy National Chairman (North), respectively at the March 26 national convention of the party. The convention was basically a consensus arrangement in which the delegates merely affirmed all the candidates for the prospective offices.
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Adamu, in particular was said to be the preferred candidate of President Muhammad Buhari – a consideration that made the more favoured immediate past governor of his home Nasarawa, Tanko al-Makura to forego his ambition.
Adamu, who was governor of Nasarawa, had started off as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before crossing over to the APC. He was elected governor on the PDP ticket and entered the same on the same platform before joining the APC later.
Allegations were rife that his movement to the ruling party was to stave off investigation by the Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his activities while serving as governor.
He has however waved off the allegation, notwithstanding that he was under probe by the agency, at a time. One of his sons is also being tried at the instances of the anti-crime commission on corruption-related charges.
Adamu’s election as APC chairman is being seen in some corners as a strategic move by the president to take full control of the party so as to be able to determine who emerges the presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 general election.
Though Buhari has repeatedly assured of handing to Nigerians a legacy of transparent electoral process, he is seen to have more than a passing interest on who succeeds him, next year.
Many chieftains of the APC have indicated interest in the party’s presidential ticket. Among these are the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi, Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, his counterpart for Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, Minister for transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu.