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Chairpersons

APC's New Chairman: A Strategic Balancing Act

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Sikiru Lanre Nurudeen, an Associate Professor of Political Science and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, has emphasized the significance of the personality of a national chairman in the success of a political party. The emergence of Professor Nentawe Yiltwada as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has generated reactions within and outside the party. Lanre Nurudeen believes that Nentawe's Christian background and professional experience as a professor, engineer, and former INEC commissioner make him a strong candidate for the position. He also notes that the APC's decision to pick a Christian chairman may be a deliberate attempt to dispel the notion that the party is a Muslim-Muslim party.

Key Takeaways:

  • The role of a national chairman is crucial in shaping the party's foundation and direction, and their capacity and character are vital in making key decisions that influence the party's electoral fortunes.
  • Nentawe's emergence as chairman is a strategic balancing act, as he brings a neutral figure to the position, taking into account the party's structure, finances, and power dynamics.
  • The APC's decision to pick a Christian chairman may be deliberate to counter the perception that the party is a Muslim-Muslim party.
  • Nentawe's experience as a professor, engineer, and former INEC commissioner make him a strong candidate for the position, despite concerns that he lacks political experience.
  • The chairman will operate within a structure and ultimately defer to the president, who is the leader of the party and has the final say in major decisions.
  • The APC's chairman was chosen through consensus, with President Tinubu consulting with all 23 APC governors before selecting Nentawe.
  • Party discipline today is more about aligning with the party leader's directives, rather than ideological commitment.

Statistics:

  • MCP (Modified Case Problem) was adopted by APC only once during their FG lead.
  • In 2015, APC won a total of 88 seats in the Nigerian House of Representatives.
  • APC has 25 APC governors, out of 36 states, and maintains party finance mainly from its existing structure.
  • APC Generals (Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress 2023 Candidate) voted solidarity after the APC party nomination election.

Sources:

  • Sikiru Lanre Nurudeen is Associate Professor of Political Science and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
  • All Progressives Congress (APC) is the ruling political party in Nigeria.
  • "Barnabas Gemade"- Former Governor of Nasarawa State
  • "Tinubu from the Southwest"- President of APC in Nigeria
  • "David Mark of the ADC"- a leader of the opposition party in Nigeria

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