APC Nigeria

January 13, 2025, marks a significant milestone in the history of the APC UK Chapter, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the events that redefined the chapter’s structure, governance, and future. On this day in 2024, a botched congress exposed deep-seated issues and set the stage for the creation of a 22-member APC UK Interim Committee, led by Hon. Tunde Doherty as Chairman and Hon. Joseph Adebola as Secretary. This committee was tasked with stabilizing the chapter and organizing a credible elective congress within six months, as mandated by the party Headquarters.

What unfolded in the months following was a dramatic interplay of leadership, resistance, and eventual triumph, as the chapter navigated internal challenges to achieve an unprecedented feat: hosting the first-ever party-backed congress outside Nigeria.

A Vision for Stability and Progress

Upon assuming the role of Interim Chairman, Hon. Tunde Doherty quickly outlined a clear plan to restore credibility and functionality to the APC UK Chapter. Central to this vision was holding a transparent and democratic elective congress by mid-2024. However, this vision was met with resistance from a group within the committee, led by Hon. Adebola, who appeared more interested in maintaining a perpetual interim arrangement rather than adhering to the party’s directive.

Efforts to convene the inaugural meeting of the interim committee revealed the depth of the challenge. After significant delays, the meeting finally took place on February 5, 2024, via Zoom. While it became the only meeting of the interim committee, it was not without its successes. Chaired by Hon. Doherty, the meeting achieved critical resolutions, including scheduling a general meeting between February 24 and March 2, 2024, and setting the congress date between March 30 and April 13, 2024.

Conflict and Manipulation

The aftermath of the meeting brought to light the stark divisions within the committee. Hon. Doherty’s timely update to members on the resolutions sparked tensions within Mr. Adebola’s camp. In a move that betrayed the principles of accountability, Mr. Adebola fabricated minutes that contradicted the actual proceedings of the meeting. However, recordings of the meeting, stored both on hard drives and in the cloud, provided indisputable evidence of the true resolutions.

Recognizing the threat to the chapter’s integrity, Hon. Doherty submitted the authentic minutes and recordings to the party headquarters. This bold step underscored his commitment to transparency and set the stage for the headquarters to intervene decisively.

The Dawn of a New Era

With the genuine minutes in hand, the party headquarters acted swiftly to uphold democratic principles. A congress date was set, and on June 29, 2024, the APC UK Chapter made history by conducting the first-ever party-sanctioned elective congress outside Nigeria. The event marked a turning point, bringing together members and delegates to elect Hon. Tunde Doherty as Chairman alongside 27 other executives.

This achievement was more than just a procedural milestone; it symbolized the resilience of the APC UK Chapter and its commitment to democratic governance. The success of the congress demonstrated that even in the face of internal resistance and political maneuvering, integrity and determination could prevail.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

As we reflect on this transformative year, it is clear that the APC UK Chapter has emerged stronger and better positioned to contribute meaningfully to the party’s objectives. The journey from the chaos of January 2024 to the triumph of June 2024 is a testament to the power of visionary leadership and collective effort.

This anniversary serves as a reminder of the chapter’s resilience and its unwavering commitment to progress. It also underscores the importance of integrity, transparency, and adherence to democratic principles in fostering unity and driving meaningful change.

Today, the APC UK Chapter stands as a beacon of progressiveness within the APC family, ready to continue its work of representing the diaspora community and contributing to the broader goals of the party at home and abroad.

Cllr Tunde Ajisola writes from Bedfordshire.