APC North-East Zonal Congress Lacked Consensus, Says Musdapher

Mohammed Bello Musdapher, a prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has voiced his disapproval of the recent North-East zonal congress, stating that the exercise was conducted without achieving consensus and did not align with democratic party standards.

During an interview with ARISE News on Sunday, Musdapher, who had sought the position of National Vice Chairman for the North-East zone, contended that the selection of the eventual candidate was irregular and did not represent a genuine agreement among all the contenders.

"What I am trying to convey is that there was definitely no consensus. There was no consensus whatsoever," Musdapher asserted, arguing that genuine consensus requires unanimous agreement from all participants, not coercion or exclusion.

Musdapher refuted any suggestion that his discontent stemmed from personal disappointment, despite his admitted unhappiness with the results of the congress.

"Certainly not. I am not pleased with how things turned out, nor have I lost out, and I am not among those the president is referring to. What actually occurred was that I first competed for the office of the national vice chairman for the northeast, which is also known as the zonal chairman of our esteemed party, the APC."

He elaborated that after meeting all the necessary qualifications during the screening phase, he was informed that another candidate had already been favoured.

"We proceeded to the screening, and after submitting all my documents, the officials in charge informed me that they were sorry, that I had met all the requirements. They assured me I would be included in their report, but clarified that I was not the individual designated as the anointed candidate from Abuja."

According to Musdapher, this situation led to confusion among party officials due to conflicting interests influencing the selection process.

"What made my situation particularly complex was that, in addition to the anointed candidate from Abuja, I was also informed that they were in a difficult situation, uncertain of the direction to take. There was another candidate who was the preferred choice of the governors from the northeast region."

Mustapha maintained that the absence of a proper consensus-building mechanism rendered the outcome invalid, emphasizing that the aspirants were not convened to discuss or mutually agree upon a single candidate.

"Furthermore, we were not even invited to participate in the consensus- building process. If you listen closely… consensus implies a meeting of the minds of all aspirants. The aspirants must come together. They need to select one among themselves, based on a mutual agreement on a particular aspirant to represent them… This means there should be no disagreement, not a single dissenting voice."

To clarify the scope of his grievance, Musdapher specified that his objection was directed at the zonal congress specifically, and not the national convention.

He further disclosed that he has initiated steps to contest the results and reclaim the position he believes rightfully belongs to him.

"And I am taking all the appropriate actions to ensure that I regain my seat. Because this seat is mine based on past agreements."

Musdapher also based his claim on prior agreements within the party, referencing an understanding reached by stakeholders in 2022 concerning the zoning and rotation of positions within the North-East.

"All I wish to convey is that, according to an agreement made in the past, in 2022… there was a pact among the party stakeholders from the zone, which also involved two then-serving governors…"

He argued that the principles of rotation and existing agreements should have guided the selection process, rather than what he characterized as an imposition.

The APC chieftain's comments emerge in the context of President Bola Tinubu's recent emphasis on party unity and collective objectives at the APC's 8th National Convention, where he urged members to prioritize the party's future over personal ambitions.

However, Musdapher's assertions highlight existing internal disagreements within the party, particularly concerning the conduct of its internal processes and adherence to established methods for choosing party officials.