APC’s internal strife

As campaigns toward the 2023 general elections officially begin, the house of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is far from being in harmony. 

What’s happening there? 

An official of the party has said that the letter said to have been written by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu reflects the true position of the National Working Committee (NWC) despite their denial. There had been confusion in the party over a protest letter supposedly written by the chairman to its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing displeasure over the composition of its Presidential Campaign Council. 

Did the Chairman acknowledge writing the letter? 

No, he did not. Hours after the letter was leaked, the party’s spokesman, Felix Morka, issued a statement on Thursday saying that the letter did not originate from the chairman. Reacting to the controversy, party leaders, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, and who are privy to happenings within the party, have said that the letter reflects the current position of the NWC. “That letter is the position of the NWC. Whatever is happening now is an attempt at a recant”, one of the leaders said. 

Has Tinubu responded to the development? 

There’s been no response from the presidential candidate. One of his aides, who pleaded anonymity, was reported to have told Vanguard newspaper that his principal would not react to the letter as published in the media. “No letter was sent to Asiwaju. So, how do we react to a leaked letter that was never sent?” the aide said. Dismissing the letter, Morka said, “the National Chairman and presidential candidate maintain cordial and effective communication channels, and enjoy full liberty of open and frank conversations on matters of interest to the Party and our campaign”.