APC Convention: The Malady of an Unusual Consensus
By Gabriel Ikese
The highly anticipated All Progressive Congress Party (APC) convention has come and gone. It was the most hyped in recent annals of our political history.
Prior to the March 26 convention, the party was embroiled in a bitter internal crisis resulting from the registration and revalidation exercise and states’ conventions. The Gov. Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), was faced with barrage of criticisms and several litigations by aggrieved party members. These plethora of crisis forced the party to shift the national convention on three occasions.
The palpable fears that the party would explode was real, but the leadership was resolute and confident of a peaceful convention. The APC adopted a consensus strategy but in the end, it was an “unusual consensus”. But no matter how unusual it was, it did the magic. It was enough to silence the doom-and- gloomers who foretold implosions in the party. The convention was relatively methodical and beyond expectations of majority of political observers. It was a classic masterstroke by the Professors of “practical politics”.
Sen. Abudullahi Adamu, a former Governor of Nassarawa State under the PDP and now chieftain of the APC, was anointed as consensus candidate in the just concluded party convention in Abuja. Adamu was adopted on a thunderous voice vote as the new National Chairman of the ruling APC and now burdened with the responsibility to rescue the party from itself.
Some aspirants, including those for chairmanship, wanted to determine their fate through the expressed will of party faithful by voting. However, the party in a sheer calculated hybrid politicking, convinced or more or less cajoled those for the top spot to capitulate to the consensus arrangement. And giving it a semblance of voluntary resignations to calm frayed nerves, it prevailed on Sen George Akume to announce the withdrawal at the convention venue.
The consensus model did not appeal to majority party loyalists at the convention. It is foolhardy for anyone who saw how unusual the consensus was arranged to agree that aspirants stepped down wholeheartedly. Even the gullibles in the crowd saw the despair on faces of participants who could not cover the frightening emotional dispositions.
There is no reason to look far or waste valuable time and scarce resources to Okija shrine to reveal the mystery of the unity list. What qualify the names on the list is their relationship with the bagmen and not merit or capacity. In our clime, party interest is always relegated to bias sentiments of those that pays the Piper.
Consensus democracy features increased citizen participation both in determining the political agenda and decision-making process. When it is common practice in a democracy for parties to seek consensus in electing officials, such decisions must be owned by every members. But the APC unusual consensus foreclosed such possibilities and only the opportuned few made decisions for all members. The APC make a mockery of consensus in a democracy.
It is for this reason that aggrieved members considered Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s choice as subjective. Information from the grapevine further affirmed the suspicion that President Mohammadu Buhari singlehandedly imposed Adamu on the party and would not listen to dissenting opinions. When the President says yes, it is difficult for anybody to say no. Majority of party members thought Senator Tanko Almakura, a pioneer member of the party should lead the NWC. Obviously, that will have to wait.
Speaking in this direction and in a moment of madness, Joe Igbokwe posted on his social media handle, “our spirit will not allow it to happen. APC Nigeria has been mocking us, abusing us, shaming us, marginalising us, disgracing us, relegating us to the background, taking our support under empty stomach for granted. They empower our enemies to ridicule us. PDP invaders are moving in in droves, taking up prime positions and pushing us to the corner. God will fight for us in the fullness of time”. This makes it easier to see that it is not yet Uhuru for the APC, only peace of the graveyard.
The stage drama by the lady aspirant from Nassarawa State, Mrs Audu, was a manifestation of strong resentment to the “unusual” consensus. She described the unity list as a bunch of malarkey and refused to give up her aspiration. She wondered why such decision that infringe on her fundamental right to vote and be voted for as bonafide member of the party would be taken without her knowledge. Popular Nigerian adage says, “you cannot shave a man’s hair in his absence”.
As the outcome of the events of the convention struggle to settle, many party members are left with permanent emotional damage. The trauma was caused by the unusual consensus choices and how the party leadership handled competing interests with reckless abandon.
In our kind of democracy, politics is a “do or die” affair. Those in power undermine the rules to remain relevant and make mockery of the electoral process against altruistic reasons. What manner of consensus will leave behind emotional torture, pains and hopelessness. The model deployed fits a perfect definition of imposition. It was an absurdity.
Why APC opted for a consensus in the first instance was to build a stronger cohesion. It was to galvanize collective individual interests in a manner devoid of sentiments. Ordinarily, all members who are fundamentally involved in the process should work together to find solutions that meet everyone’s needs in the party. It’s about working with each other rather than for or against each other. But unfortunately, the unity list came without party members opinions or input. They did not care.
The APC used same consensus approach when Oshiomole was imposed on the party, and it was a calamity. The imposition of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as chairman, could stir up more crisis and disquiet. The prevailing calm in the party is nothing but a mirage. Discerning minds are worried that the party’s concensus model is capable of causing implosion in the party as it prepare to elect a candidate in the forthcoming presidential primary.
The ruling All Progressive Congress Party (APC) must do a rethink and embrace internal party democracy. The party should be considerate to seek collective decision making approach if it intends to stay longer in power.
APC Convention: The Malady of an Unusual Consensus
Ikese is a Columnist for Ournigeria News.
