Salihu Lukman, the Vice-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North-West, has resigned from the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
In a letter dated July 26, 2023 and delivered to the acting APC National Chairman, Abubakar Kyari, Lukman stated that he preferred to resign from the party’s leadership rather than become a source of distraction for President Bola Tinubu’s incoming administration.
“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, on the other hand, stated he remained an APC member and urged APC leaders to repent of their criminal activities. He also stated that he had no choice 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 stepped down amid a new problem for the ruling party. His resignation came just two weeks after Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore quit as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
Omisore referred to Lukman as a “black sheep” on Channels Television’s Politics Today on July 12, 2023.
However, Lukman, who had accused Omisore of mismanaging campaign finances in his home state of Osun State during the recently concluded general election, shot back, saying Adamu and Omisore were vying for the party’s emperorship.
