Hours to convention, Bauchi APC yet to resolve crisis
The Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is still grappling with a lingering crisis as the party's national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yiltwada, sent a fact-finding committee to intervene ahead of the national convention. The committee, led by Deputy National Secretary Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Gana, was prevented from sitting for nearly an hour due to a heated confrontation with party members.
The crisis has been ongoing since the last state congress, with various interests within the party vying for positions in the State Working Committee. A powerful governorship aspirant, backed by a former governor, is believed to have influenced the current structure, leaving other stakeholders feeling marginalized. The disagreement centres around key positions including state secretary, organising secretary, and welfare secretary.
The committee was mandated to engage party leaders and resolve issues arising from the state congress. However, they were unable to proceed with the meeting due to the hostile atmosphere, which they blamed on the state executive committee for failing to provide a conducive environment.
Professor Gana expressed his frustration, stating that the committee could not conduct a meaningful discussion in an open hall surrounded by shouting party members. He noted that the committee remains open to reconvening once order is restored.
The failed meeting has left the party's chances of resolving the crisis before the national convention uncertain.
The Bauchi APC's inability to resolve its internal crisis ahead of the national convention raises serious questions about the party's ability to govern effectively. The actions of the state executive committee, led by a powerful governorship aspirant, have been detrimental to the party's progress. The fact that the committee was unable to provide a conducive environment for the fact-finding team to conduct its work is a clear indication of the deep-seated divisions within the party. This crisis has significant implications for the APC's chances of winning future elections, and it remains to be seen how the party will recover from this setback. The people of Bauchi deserve better, and it is imperative that the party takes concrete steps to address this crisis and restore order.
