APC Naitional crisis deepens as national vice chair resigns

Salihu Lukman, the National Vice Chairman (North-west) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has resigned from the party.

On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Lukman announced his resignation in a letter to the party’s Acting National Chairman, Abubakar Kyari.

Lukman had previously spoken out against Ganduje’s nomination, urging APC governors and the President not to distort the party’s zoning formula, among other things.

In the letter, Lukman stated that the current posture of the party’s leaders, including President Bola Tinubu, contradicted his own core values.

He said he would, however, retain his membership of the party in the hope that its leaders, especially President Tinubu, would retrace his steps from unjust and illegal acts, which is crucial to any claim of being democratic or progressive, whether as politicians or as patriotic Nigerians.

The letter reads: “I hereby kindly resign my position as National Vice Chairman, North-West of our great party. All Progressives Congress APC.

“My resignation which is with immediate effect, became necessary given my conviction that the atmosphere in the party is completely at variance with the founding vision of forming a progressive party.

“Rather than remaining in the leadership of the party and becoming a source of distraction for leaders and especially for the young government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is better to excuse myself and take time off politics.

“I will, however, retain my membership of the party in the hope that our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will retract from acts that will be unjust and illegal, which is crucial to any claim of being democratic or progressive whether as politicians or as patriotic Nigerians.”

The former vice chairman was at the forefront of the movement that dislodged the former National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, and the National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore.

He had repeatedly accused the former leaders of mismanaging the party.

He departed from the NWC eight days after the duo were forced out of their positions.