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…Protests trail Abia, Cross River, Kogi approved candidates
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
There was anxiety at the headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, following announcement of candidates to fill the vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC) and the zonal leadership of the party.
Announcing the list at a media briefing after the NWC meeting, party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, revealed that Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno State) will serve as deputy national chairman, North (North East Zone) to replace the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari while Garba Datti Muhammad (Kaduna State), will replace Salihu Moh Lukman, as national vice chairman, North West (North West).
The party’s chief scribe disclosed that the NWC settled for Abdul Karim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa State) (North Central Zone) for the position of national legal adviser, as replacement for his resigned predecessor.
He also announced Donatus Nwankpa (Abia State) as the new national welfare secretary (South East Zone) to replace the late Friday Nwosu and Mary Alile Idele from Edo State emerged national women leader (South South).
The ruling party equally settled for Duro Meseko (Kogi State) as deputy national publicity secretary (North Central Zone) to replace Yakubu Ajaka, just as Ikani Shuaibu Okolo (Kogi State) takes the position of zonal organising secretary (North Central).
However, the announcement for Abia, Kogi and Cross River generated controversy shortly after as party’s leaders and chieftains like the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Beta Edu, who had earlier recommended Dr Stella Odey-Ekpo, allegedly lost to the candidate of Adams Oshiomhole.
It was the same scenario in Kogi State, where the candidate of Governor Yahaya Bello, lost to the candidate of James Faleke for the position of the deputy national publicity secretary.
For Abia State, it was equally alleged that the candidates recommended by both the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and the State Chairman, Ikechi Emenike both lost to the candidate of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Interestingly, shortly after the announcement, the former woman leader, Edu, stormed the national secretariat around 6.20pm to protest the dropping of her candidate who had already practically resumed office and left around 45 minutes later.
