The South-South zone of the All Progressives Congress on Monday threw its weight behind a former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, as its preferred candidate for the position of national chairman of the party.
It was learnt that leaders from the zone announced this at a meeting in Benin, a few hours after the state chapter of the party endorsed the former governor.
It was, however, gathered that the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, were absent from the meeting.
Our correspondent learnt that members of the party in attendance are the APC National Vice-Chairman (South-South), Hilliard Eta; Oshiomhole, Chief Timipre Silva, Senator Magnus Abbe, Alims Agoda, Eseme Ehibo and a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Sam Ewang.
Others are Chief Miriam Alli, Senator Francis Alimekhena, Frank Ajobena, Chief Great Ogboru, Victor Ochei, Cairo Ojougboh, Senator Domingo Obende, Speaker of the Edo State Assembly, Kabiru Adjoto and Frank Kokori.
It was gathered, that there was a mild drama in the meeting, which lasted for some hours, when some supporters of Amaechi protested that they were not at the meeting to endorse any candidate.
Although nominations were later made for Odigie-Oyegun and Oshiomhole, the latter was said to have received a yes vote from the majority present.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Eta, said that the choice of Oshiomhole followed serious deliberations and consultation with members of the APC within the zone and the need to support the best candidate from the zone.
He explained, “We took into consideration the need to put our best forward. it was on the basis of these reasons that we decided to meet today (Monday) as the South-South zone of the party.
