APC SHAKES AS ATIKU QUITS
The All Progressives Congress, APC was yesterday moving to fortify unity in its
ranks after one of its leading members and Nigeria’s former vice-president,
Atiku Abubakar left the party in response to what he described as the
clampdown of democracy in the party.
Hours after Atiku issued his exit statement, the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, himself at one time a very close
confidant of Atiku, made a high profile visit to the APC national secretariat
where the issue of unity was stressed. Also following the Atiku move, Governor
Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State who Atiku cited in his resignation statement as
having previously outlined the fault lines in the APC, made a conspicuous visit
to the Presidential Villa. His visit was interpreted in some quarters as a form of
solidarity to the party leader, President Muhammadu Buhari who was perceived
as the object of Atiku’s rebellion.
The moves for cohesion Saturday Vanguard learnt yesterday were in response
to mutterings about significant departures from the party by already vexed
senior chieftains of the party. Sources have noted that as many as 20 APC
senators were bidding to depart the party. One of those repeatedly mentioned
yesterday was Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Saturday Vanguard could not reach
him as at press time yesterday.
The national leadership of the party, however, said yesterday that it would not
be bothered by Atiku’s exit unless a significant number of party members went
with him.
The presidency which was partly the butt of Atiku’s reason for leaving was not
in a position to respond to the development yesterday. Mallam Garba Shehu a
long time associate of the former vice-president who was donated to help the
Muhammadu Buhari campaign and subsequently became the president’s
spokesman was not available for comments on the development.
Governor El-Rufai was nevertheless dismissive of the move by Atiku who he
described as a serial presidential contestant affirming that the former vice-
president would return to the APC after the 2019 presidential election after
failing to get the presidential ticket of his new party.
ranks after one of its leading members and Nigeria’s former vice-president,
Atiku Abubakar left the party in response to what he described as the
clampdown of democracy in the party.
Hours after Atiku issued his exit statement, the Secretary to the Government of
the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, himself at one time a very close
confidant of Atiku, made a high profile visit to the APC national secretariat
where the issue of unity was stressed. Also following the Atiku move, Governor
Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State who Atiku cited in his resignation statement as
having previously outlined the fault lines in the APC, made a conspicuous visit
to the Presidential Villa. His visit was interpreted in some quarters as a form of
solidarity to the party leader, President Muhammadu Buhari who was perceived
as the object of Atiku’s rebellion.
The moves for cohesion Saturday Vanguard learnt yesterday were in response
to mutterings about significant departures from the party by already vexed
senior chieftains of the party. Sources have noted that as many as 20 APC
senators were bidding to depart the party. One of those repeatedly mentioned
yesterday was Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Saturday Vanguard could not reach
him as at press time yesterday.
The national leadership of the party, however, said yesterday that it would not
be bothered by Atiku’s exit unless a significant number of party members went
with him.
The presidency which was partly the butt of Atiku’s reason for leaving was not
in a position to respond to the development yesterday. Mallam Garba Shehu a
long time associate of the former vice-president who was donated to help the
Muhammadu Buhari campaign and subsequently became the president’s
spokesman was not available for comments on the development.
Governor El-Rufai was nevertheless dismissive of the move by Atiku who he
described as a serial presidential contestant affirming that the former vice-
president would return to the APC after the 2019 presidential election after
failing to get the presidential ticket of his new party.
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