The politics of 2023 general elections
has started somehow as the struggle for control of sensitive political offices
in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has come to the fore following
the suspension of the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
After the Court of Appeal ruling which suspended Oshiomole, a serious
drama ensued as two major camps laid claim to the post of the Acting National
Chairman of the party. The National Working Committee (NWC) announced the
party's Deputy National Chairman (South) Ajimobi Abiola as the Acting National
Chairman since Oshiomhole is out for now. But, The Deputy National Secretary of
the party, Victor Giadom emerged and announced himself as the authentic Acting
National Chairman of the APC citing a court order as his backup.
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That development created so much heat
and confusion. People were confused as to who they should actually believe
because Giadom also has his loyalists and backers. Unfortunately, Ajimobi is
indisposed to start working immediately on health grounds. So, the APC
National Vice Chairman (South-South) Hilliard Eta was appointed to act in his
place. Since then, Eta who has the backing of Oshiomhole's camp has been acting
and making some decisions on behalf of the party.
Before now, Oshiomhole is seen as a staunch loyalist to the National
Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. In fact, Tinubu was key to
Oshiomhole's emergence as the APC National Chairman. Also, Ajimobi is an ally
of Tinubu. Eta is a loyalist of Oshiomhole. So, the backing enjoyed by Eta to
act in Ajimobi's place for now due to Oshiomhole's absence is understandable.
But, some people do not belong to this camp and are not comfortable with
the arrangement. Such people will want to change the equation especially as the
game of 2023 presidential and other elections have started already. The
politics of who picks the ticket of the ruling APC is somehow dependent on who
has the ears of the key national party leaders.
One of such people who is not in Oshiomhole's camp is Giadom. Yes.
Giadom emerged to change the game. In fact, this is more believable because
immediately after announcing himself as the new Acting National Chairman of
APC, Giadom went on to nullify the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki
of Edo State. Obaseki was disqualified by the screening committee, appeal
committee and NWC led by Oshiomhole before the Appeal Court judgment came.
Giadom wanted to give Obaseki the chance to return and get fair treatment in
the APC. He wanted to reverse some of the things Oshiomhole did.
One will be wondering the camp Giadom belongs to. Who are his backers as
he appears to unsettle Oshiomhole's camp? Well, to provide an insight into the
two main camps in the APC, a brief reference will be needed. According to Daily
Trust, Ajimobi’s camp has the backing of Asiwaju (that is Tinubu). While for
Giadom, party sources said he is of the camp of some serving and former
governors. The camp is tagged ‘Amaechi/ El-Rufai camp.’ Rotimi Amaechi is the
current Minister of Transportation and two-time Governor of Rivers State.
Giadom was Amaechi's Commissioner back then in Rivers. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is
the current Governor of Kaduna State. El-Rufai had generated reactions when he
said that Tinubu was not his man while congratulating the Minister of Interior,
Rauf Aregbesola, on his 63rd birthday.
The truth is, current APC Governors and former APC Governors have a big
say in the APC. Some of the former APC Governors are serving Ministers now just
like Amaechi and Aregbesola. Although, Aregbesola is Tinubu's loyalist. So,
current APC Governor and former APC Governors that are backing Giadom are not
people to underrate. In public discourse regarding 2023 presidency, the names
of some key politicians pop up as people that may likely contest. Some of those
names include those of Tinubu, Amaechi, El-Rufai, Minister of Works and
Housing, Babatunde Fashola among others. One thing is clear. None of
these people have come out to openly declare their intentions to contest.
Moreover, there could be other people who may be interested in contesting for
President but have not declared their interest.
Based on this, the role of Giadom is a big threat to the camp of
Oshiomhole/Ajimobi which are loyal to Tinubu especially as plans for 2023
politics are taking off gradually. Giadom is obviously not in Oshiomhole's camp
neither is he a loyalist to Tinubu. Instead, he is in Amaechi/El-Rufai's camp
and loyal to them. What this means is that if Giadom and his camp members
become in charge of APC, then the presidential ambition of anyone in
Oshiomhole's camp may be affected ahead of 2023. It also means that the camp
that Giadom belongs to will have the upper hand in the part's politics ahead of
2023.
Use Obaseki and Oshiomhole's saga as an example. Imagine is Obaseki had
the full backing of Oshimhole ahead of the APC screening, would he have been
disqualified? Just look back to 2016 when Obaseki had Oshiomhole's backing, it
was an easy ride for him and he won the election. Then, Oshiomhole was not the
APC National Chairman. It would have been easier for Obaseki now that
Oshiomhole is the National Chairman of the party if he had the full support of
Oshiomhole before the screening. So, that is what happens when an aspirant has
the top leadership of the party backing him. Most of the hurdles will be
removed. It would be easier for the person to scale through and win the ticket
for the post concerned especially when the person has a good support base and
other things needed.
From all indications, the APC has a serious task to do. The task is
to reconcile the various interests in the party especially with the crisis over
who is the authentic Acting National Chairman among others. These crises may
cause the party to split if not well handled and settled on time. In fact, it
is imperative especially given the fact that some of the top members of the
party may have higher political ambitions ahead of 2023.
In that case, anything that will hinder the ambitions of such
members will be resisted and that may make the settlement of the crisis more
difficult if it is not done on time. President Muhammadu Buhari can be of help
now. He is the uniting factor and the overall party leader now. All these big
names in the party still listen to and respect the President. The party should
involve President Buhari in settling the crisis now that it is still possible
before matters get out of control if the crisis lingers.
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