National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has warned that the ruling party is not immune to defeat in the 2023 general election.
Adamu, while speaking at the party`s 11th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, said lack of unity in some of the party`s state chapters could cost its electoral victory in 2023.
He stated that if critical stakeholders continue to undermine the unity of the APC on account of ego, such poses danger to the winning ways of the party.
He identified ego between past and incumbent governors of the party as reason for the crisis in some of its state chapters.
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier urged party members to be more mindful of the pitfalls that led to the ouster of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.
“We put together a committee with clear terms of reference on how to remove the PDP from power. The PDP thought it wasn’t going to be possible. They thought it was impossible to lose elections. But it happened,’’ the President said.
The national chairman recalled that in its efforts to unite the party, its former Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) constituted a national reconciliation committee to find lasting peace in the party.
“I know that President Muhammadu Buhari is not unmindful of what happened to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014 and 2015 when it lost the presidential election.
“Our party is not immune to similar fate should it conduct itself in such a way that continues to undermine the legacy of the founding fathers to build this party.
“I was the chairman of the national reconciliation committee and came out of the assignment fully conversant of the problems.
“The battle rarely is a battle for supremacy between serving state governors and their predecessors in office; it is a crisis fuelled by ego. So ego is the enemy,” he said.
Adamu, who is a former governor of Nasarawa State, added that ego between former and serving governors of the APC had turned them into bitter enemies.
He said because of ego, groups supporting the party`s past and serving governors were putting it in jeopardy, adding that such development could affect the party`s electoral victory in 2023 general elections.
“The serving and past governors are powerful men, each of them are leaders in their own right in there states, but when two elephants fight, the grass suffers.
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“Similarly, when two powerful politicians fight, the party suffers, because the speech and actions of these powerful men will bring a filthy and odious stench to our party,” he said.
He maintained that while the party`s former governors were recognised as powerful in their own way, incumbent governors remained the party`s leaders in their respective states.
This, he said, was in line with the party’s Constitution, adding that APC former governors must recognise that fact and respect its state structure.
“Our party’s Constitution makes no room for two party leaders in a state, there is no reason to compete with serving governors for the leadership of the party,” Adamu said.
He added that there was, however, need to take urgent and targeted steps to unite the party at all levels if it must continue in its winning ways in 2023 and beyond.
He said the party must emerge from incessant challenges to prepare for the coming tasks ahead.
Adamu said the party must also begin the process of banishing disagreement and build on its past and present experiences.
Some dignitaries at the meeting included President, Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC governors, state chairmen and other members of the National Working Committee (NEC).
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