The All Progressives Congress (APC) has elected the former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman at the National Convention held in Abuja yesterday.
Oshiomhole who was elected unopposed was affirmed as the National Chairman of the party by the delegates to the Convention following the withdrawal of other chairmanship aspirants a few days before the convention.
Following Oshiomhole’s emergence through affirmation, many other offices, such as national welfare officer, financial secretary, zonal woman leader (North-central), ex-offio members for North-central and North-west, the zonal woman leader (South-south), were declared unopposed, as aspirants withdrew from the contest.
Another aspirant for National Vice Chairman (South-west), Akin Akinlerure, withdrew from the race thereby making the coast clear for the lone contestant, Bankole Olajorin, who was returned by affirmation.
Two other aspirants for national secretary, Kassim Imam and Waziri Bulama had earlier withdrawn, thereby making way for the incumbent, Mai-Mala Buni to emerge through affirmation. Also the lone challenger for National Legal Adviser stepped down for Babatunde Ogala from Lagos State.
Duro Meserko, who was vying for the office of the National Publicity Secretary, withdrew from the race, thus leaving two other contestants, the incumbent, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi and Lanre Onilu.
As voting for the remaining offices of the party commenced, Buhari was the first to cast his vote, followed by governors who were called up in turns. After the governors, came the turn of delegates from the various states.
Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has described the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a charade, a mockery of democracy and assault on the sensibility of Nigerians.
A statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan noted that the open intimidation and physical assault on aspirants and delegates to the convention further confirm the desperation by President Muhammadu Buhari’s camp to seize the APC’s presidential ticket, for which they had resorted to imposing pliable officials who had been handed the directives to muzzle other presidential aspirants in the APC ahead of the party’s Presidential primary.
It observed that delegates and other members of the APC were horrified when aspirants to various party offices were being threatened, harassed and in some cases, paid and handed written orders to mount the stage and announce their withdrawal for aspirants listed by President Buhari, under heavy security presence.
It reads,” Nigerians are invited to note that some of the officials preferred, particularly, the National Chairman, are individuals overburdened by heavy corruption allegations, and whose expected investigation and prosecution have been traded for a Presidential ticket for President Buhari.
“The world observed with shock how aspirants and delegates who dared to raise questions were manhandled by thugs and intimidated by security operatives.
“It is instructive to state that the APC convention directly reflects the confusion, intimidations, violations and descent to fascism, that have characterized governance in our nation in the last three years.
“President Buhari’s handlers are aware that due to his poor performance, clinching his party’s presidential ticket under a free, fair and credible primary is impossible, hence this resort to intimidation, coercion and escalation of official hooliganism in the APC.
“While we urge Nigerians and the international community to mark the desperation in Mr. President’s camp, for which they are bent at destroying our democracy, it is clear that with the character, personality and outlook of the incoming national executive of the APC, the party has been finally sunk by President Buhari and his power hungry cabal”.
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