The Vice-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North-West, Salihu Lukman, has resigned as a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
In a letter dated July 26, 2023 and addressed to the acting APC National Chairman, Abubakar Kyari, Lukman said he chose to resign from the leadership of the party than become a source of distraction for the new administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“My resignation is with immediate effect, which becomes necessary given my conviction that the atmosphere in the party is completely at variance with the founding vision of forming a progressive party,” the letter partly read.
“Rather than remaining in the leadership of the party and become a source of distraction for leaders and especially for the young government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is better to excuse myself and take time off from politics.”
Lukman, however, said he remained a member of the APC, urging APC leaders to retract from illegal actions. He also said he was left with no other option but to leave the party.
“I will however retain my membership of the party in the hope that our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will retract from acts that will be unjust and illegal, which is crucial to any claim of being democratic or progressive whether as politicians or as patriotic Nigerians.
“I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to our leaders in Kaduna especially Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for finding me worthy of nomination to serve at the highest of the party’s leadership.
“I do hope all our leaders will appreciate that I am left with no option in the circumstance.”
Lukman resigned amid a fresh crisis hitting the ruling party. His resignation followed those of Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore who resigned as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively about two weeks ago.
On July 12, 2023, on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, Omisore labelled Lukman as a “black sheep”.
However, Lukman, who had accused Omisore of mismanaging funds meant for campaigns in his home state, Osun State, during the just concluded general election, fired back, saying Adamu and Omisore were seeking to be emperors of the party.