RESIGNATION OF THE APC NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN

Tunji Wusu –

Salihu Lukman, the National Vice Chairman (North-west) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), resigned on Wednesday, raising the possibility that the tempest within the party may not yet calm down.

In a letter addressed to the party’s acting national chairman, Abubakar Kyari, Mr. Lukman announced his resignation.

His resignation was announced on the same day that Abdullahi Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, received the support of the APC chairpersons in the seven states that make up the North-West zone to serve as the party’s national chairman.

The climate in the party is wholly at odds with the founding objective of building a progressive party, according to Mr. Lukman, a former director general of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), the body that unites all APC governors.

“I gladly submit my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) as National Vice Chairman, North-West. Given my view that the atmosphere within the party is wholly at odds with the founding objective of building a progressive party, I now resign with immediate effect.

“It is better for me to excuse myself from politics and take a break from politics than to stay in the party’s leadership and provide a distraction for leaders, especially for the fledgling administration of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

However, I will continue to be a member of the party in the hopes that our leaders, particularly President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will back down from any unjust or illegal actions. This is essential for any claim to be democratic or progressive, whether made by politicians or patriotic Nigerians.

“I would want to express my profound gratitude to our leaders in Kaduna, notably Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, for nominating me to serve at the top of the party’s leadership structure. I sincerely hope that all of our leaders will see that, given the circumstances, I have no choice. I wish the party and all of our leaders luck, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I’ll keep providing my meager support in the background to help the party succeed, the letter said.