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REVIEW… APC CRISIS: Tinubu might yet have a joker up his sleeves

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REVIEW... APC CRISIS: Tinubu might yet have a joker up his sleeves

Recently, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), voted to extend the tenure of the John Odigie-Oyegun leadership by 12 months, beginning June this year. Ordinarily, Oyegun’s tenure ought to lapse by the middle of the year by which time the party was expected to hold another convention to elect a new leadership.

The tenure elongation for Oyegun, which also, automatically affected leadership of state chapters of the party, though an action reserved, constitutionally, for an elective convention, was justifiably hinged on Article 13 of the APC constitution which empowered the party’s NEC to carry out the function of the convention.

Article 13 of the APC Conventions is titled ‘Power of Party Organs’ and reads: “The final authority of the party shall rest with the National convention which shall have powers to: ratify policies and programmes of the party; elect or remove the national officers of the party; elect the presidential candidate of the party; receive reports from National Executive Committee and from any other committee and or organ of the party; and take appropriate decision on the reports and or recommendations; amend the constitution of the party from time to time as the need may arise; delegate any of its powers to the Board of Trustees, National Executive committee or to any other organ of the party; take any action as may be conducive to the promotion of the aims and objectives of the party as laid down in this constitution; appoint external auditors to audit the part’s accounts for its consideration; exercise such other powers and authority as are vested in it by this constitution; ratify the minimum rate of annual subscription to be paid by members and the proportion of income from subscription to be remitted to the national office of the party”.

The party’s constitution, also at Article 13.3, listed powers of the National Executive Committee. The powers include, among others, to: “summon or convene the national convention and prepare its agenda; discharge all functions of the national convention as constituted in between national conventions; decision of the national convention shall be binding on all members of the party except the national convention…”

The proviso at Article 13.3 creates an escape for the National Convention of the APC to disregard the decision of the party’s NEC and insist on a proper convention to elect a new leadership of extend Oyegun’s tenure. This may be the opening available to Tinubu to challenge, or cause to be challenged, outcome of the NEC meeting.

Tinubu is openly known to have insisted on Oyegun’s removal. He had made public calls to the effect. He believes Oyegun is a clog in the wheel of the party’s progress and may have imported behaviours that are consistent with PDP and ANPP into the APC. For this reason, Tinubu saw his appointment as reconciler of aggrieved members as the best platform to kick Oyegun out. He had bargained that shoving Oyegun aside would kick start the much needed reconciliation. But he was wrong.

By accepting President Muhammadu Buhari’s offer to lead the reconciliation effort, Tinubu brought himself, against advice, within shooting range. He forgot he was dealing with persons who are versed in military tactics. Warring soldiers don’t spare enemies who advance into firing range. While Tinubu sauntered in and out of Buhari’s home in the Villa lobbying for Pa Bisi Akande to be brought in as replacement for Oyegun, he failed to realise that the cabal working with Buhari take no prisoners.

For this reason, outcome of the NEC meeting is seen as a humiliating knock for Tinubu who is known to always fight back. The concern now, however, is how he would orchestrate a fight back. His political machine is already weakened. His political influence has waned considerably. He has lost comradeship of most, if not all, southwest political figureheads holding top positions in Buhari’s government. Among all APC governors, perhaps, only Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state and Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state still see themselves as his boys. He can no longer boast of support, or followership, of APC governors in the North, never mind the photo props. He is not known to be on same dinner table with the lone APC governor in the Southeast, neither does he enjoy the best from the APC government in Edo state.

In the past, a Tinubu would have fallen back on the judiciary to repair the damage done his image by the NEC of APC. His relationship with the Court of Appeal, its leadership and judges, counted negatively in the events that led to a cleansing exercise at that level of the judiciary in the past. As it is now, he is not likely to enjoy the sort of judicial support he enjoyed as leader of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Read also: Tinubu loses out in APC power play as NEC extends Oyegun’s tenure

However, if he causes a legal challenge of the APC NEC decision on grounds that it is not binding on the National convention of the party as stated in Article 13.3 of the party’s decision, or seeks to directly challenge it, he will likely achieve a reprieve as the action contravened the constitution of the party. That may be the trump card which Tinubu may play.

But will he? With the Buhari administration proving itself a vicious disrespecter of constitutionalism and mindless abuser of rights, Tinubu will be wise not to put stake his head on the guillotine. If he does, the hangman will be merciless in decimating him to the joyous relief of so many who are eagerly waiting to see Tinubu pick a fight against Buhari. As it is, the odds don’t favour him in a fight, judicial or otherwise, with Buhari. Therefore, he may have to stomach the humiliation he has had in an APC he helped to become.

For now, what is at play is a battle for the soul of APC. Many in the party believe that without Buhari, the party will disintegrate. Many members of the party have also voiced out in that regard. This may be an indication that Tinubu no longer has a controlling hold, he was believed to have, on the party. Many political fronts from the northern flank now believe that APC represents their vision of reality. This indicates that Tinubu and his support base have been played out. Pulling out, though touted, may be one of his trump cards. But the odds don’t seem to favour him in this regard.

His option? At the moment, any permutations might amount to mere speculations but very credible sources within his camp confide that the Lion of Bourdillon, as he is fondly called, would deploy every legitimate means to query his party’s stance on Oyegun. Already, he has found support in the likes of Governor Abdulaziz Yari, Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum, who has described tenure extension for Oyegun as ‘mere expression of interest’, which can only be validated by a national convention.

Analysts believe, therefore, that Tinubu might just be lying in wait to spring a big surprise on the party he helped to nurse to power.

By Femi Qudus

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