APC Vice Chairman, Lukman, Resigns, Cites Illegalities

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for North-West, Mallam Salihu Lukman, has resigned with immediate effect.

Lukman submitted his resignation letter on Wednesday, 26 July 2023 to the Acting National Chairman of the party, Senator Abubakar Kyari.

This comes a week after the former National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, relinquished their positions.

In a copy of the letter made available to newsmen on Wednesday, the outspoken Vice Chairman noted that his resignation is over illegal acts and interference in the affairs of the party which, he claimed, run counter to the vision of the founding fathers.

Lukman said that rather than staying in leadership position and be seen as a distraction, he decided to throw in the towel to continue his agitation.

“Your Excellency, I hereby kindly resign my position as National Vice Chairman, North-West of our great party, All Progressives Congress. 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.

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“Rather than remaining in the leadership of the party and becoming 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.

“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,” the letter read.

The outgoing Vice Chairman also thanked former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for nominating and standing by him throughout his tenure.

He, however, promised to continue to support the party in every way that he can.

“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 level of the party’s leadership. I do hope all our leaders will appreciate that I am left with no option in the circumstance. I wish the party and all our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu all the best and will continue to give my modest support towards the success of the party from the background,” Lukman said.

Prime Business Africa reports that prior to his resignation as National vice chairman APC North West, Lukman had been criticising activities going on in the party which according to him, were contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution.

Recently, he issued a statement opposing the moves to nominate immediate past governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, for the position of substantive National Chairman, arguing that it will be an unjust act to North Central geo political zone where the party had zoned the position to.

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