The national working committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is becoming dissatisfied with the revenue earned from the recent general elections’ form sales.
On Monday, Salihu Lukman, the vice-chairman of the party’s north-west region, requested that Abdullahi Adamu, the national chairman, account for the billions of naira earned by the party from form sales.
In advance of the party’s presidential primary election, at least 20 candidates paid N100 million for expressions of interest and candidature forms.
Also, the party profited from the selling of national assembly, governorship, and house of assembly nomination forms.
Lukman stated in a Monday piece headed “APC and Issues of Progressive Credentials” that all decisions regarding the party’s funds were made by Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, the national secretary.
Vice-chairman: National Working Committee (NWC) members have been reduced to “rubber stamps”
Article 13.3A(xiv) of the Party’s Constitution stipulates that the NEC must approve the party’s national budget.
“Furthermore, Article 13.3A(xv) of the party’s constitution required the NWC to provide the NEC with quarterly financial reports. In addition, Article 13.4(ii) mandates that the NWC present reports, and Article 13.4(iv) mandates that the NWC present financial reports on the party’s income and expenses.
All of these have been disregarded. Yet, it is common knowledge that the party has collected billions of naira from the selling of nomination forms to prospective candidates for the 2023 general elections.
“As the NWC, we have not yet disclosed to any organ of the party how much we inherited from the caretaker committee led by His Excellency Mai Mala and how much we got in donations and contributions for the 2023 elections.
“Large-scale expenditures, including the refurbishment of the National Secretariat facility, are being made without any organ of the party fulfilling its due diligence responsibilities.
“As a member of the NWC, I can affirm without fear of disagreement that the national chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, and the national secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, make all financial management decisions for the party.
“Once the party’s constitution is no longer the guiding principle for governing the party’s operations, leaders’ discretionary judgements take precedence. Hence, even payments made to party officials and organs are acts of generosity on the part of the national chairman or his delegate.”