The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday night, resolved the impasse surrounding the nomination of candidates from Kogi state to fill the vacant position micro-zoned to it in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Disagreement erupted shortly after the national secretary of the party, Ajibola Basiru, announced the approved names of candidates to fill the six vacant positions in the NWC.
The state governor, Yayaha Bello and the state leadership of the party opposed the nomination of Hon. Duro Meseko as Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Hon. Ikani Shuaibu Okolo as Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central).
Opposition by the governor and other stakeholders from Cross River State on Thursday stalled the scheduled inauguration of the six newly elected NWC members who were to replace former officers,
The six vacancies emerged following the resignation of three members, the ministerial appointment of two and the death of the former National Welfare Secretary in March this year.
After seven hours of waiting on Thursday for the party’s National Chairman at the party secretariat, Gov. Bello eventually struck a deal with the party leadership.
An impeccable source close to the meeting told our correspondent that the governor was asked to nominate a replacement for the Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central) while the nomination of Hon. Meseko as Deputy National Publicity Secretary stands.
“After a series of negotiations and consultations with other stakeholders, based on the proposal of the National Chairman and in the interest of peace and exclusivity, the governor is to nominate the replacement for Hon. Ikani Shuaibu Okolo earlier nominated as Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central).
“It was also agreed that the nomination of Hon. Duro Meseko as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary stands.
” This decision will be conveyed to the National Leader of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the National Chairman today (Friday) after the Jumat prayers and a new date for the inauguration of the six officers will be announced after the Villa meeting.”
Though the crisis seems resolved, a source accused the governor of playing the politics of exclusion within the party.
The source said: “The governor single-handedly picked Usman Ododo as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming governorship election. He also nominated Shuaibu A. Audu) as minister of steel Development.”
Meanwhile, the dust raised by the choice of Mary Alile Idele from Edo state as the National Women Leader is yet to be rested as a group of women from Cross River State are still protesting against the replacement of Stella Odey-Ekpo, who was earlier nominated.