Abuja, the nation’s capital city was literally on standstill, yesterday, as the ruling, All Progressives Congress, APC, held its much-postponed National Convention.
All hotels were fully booked as of Friday morning when no fewer than 12,000 delegates stormed Abuja from all over the country for the ceremony
As early as 7 am the Eagle Square venue of the exercise had become a beehive of activities. It was a carnival of sorts. All the artery roads leading to Eagle Square were cordoned off. To access the venue, people walked a distance of two kilometres. Along the access roads, leaders of the APC especially those with political ambitions tried to outdo one another in poster/banner war. Their supporters with posters sang and danced in procession along the roads and inside Eagle Square.
Supporters of Central Bank Governor, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, in many groups went around canvassing for Emefiele’s emergence as president in 2023.
Supporters of Senator Rochas Okorocha, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Tein Jack-Rich, among others mounted banners and their supporters moved the round venue singing.
The 36 states of the country had their pavilions. However, those of states with presidential aspirants and serving APC governors were filled to the brim with delegates dressed in colourful attires.
Although the event was billed to start at 10 am, it never did until 8.23 pm when President Muhammadu Buhari arrived. Vice President Osinbajo arrived at 8 pm.
LoudnewsToday gathered that the delay was occasioned by the inability of party leaders to conclude the issue of unity list.
While the other six chairmanship aspirants agreed to step down for Senator Abdullahi Adamu as consensus national chairman, it was not so for the post of National Secretary where Senator Iyiola Omisore was fiercely being challenged by Ifeoluwa Oyedele. A similar scenario was obtained in the case of Deputy National Chairman, South with former Senate President Ken Nnamani and Eneukwu contesting for the slot.
The ratified executives include Senator Abubakar Kyari (Borno State) as the Deputy National Chairman (North), Emma Eneukwu (Enugu State) as the Deputy National Chairman (South), Festus Fuanter (Deputy National Secretary), Muhazu Rijau (National Vice Chairman, North-Central), Mustapha Salihu (National Vice Chairman, North-East), Salihu Lukman (National Vice Chairman, North-West), Ijeoma Arodiogwu (National Vice Chairman, South-East), Victor Giadom (National Vice Chairman, South-South), and Isaac Kekemeke (National Vice Chairman, South-West).
Others are Ahmed El-Marzuk (National Legal Adviser), Uguru Ofoke (National Treasurer), Bashir Gumel (Financial Secretary), Suleiman Argungu (National Organising Secretary), Beta Edu (National Woman Leader), Abdullahi Israel (National Youth Leader), Tolu Bankole (Special Persons Leader), F.N Nwosu (National Welfare Secretary), Felix Morka (National Publicity Secretary), Abubakar Maikafi (National Auditor), Bashir Gumel (National Financial Secretary), Ibrahim Salawu (Deputy National Legal Adviser) and Omorede Osifo (Deputy National Treasurer).
Earlier on Saturday, six national chairmanship aspirants: George Akume (Benue State), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Abdul’Aziz Yari (Zamfara), Sani Musa (Niger), Saliu Mustapha (Kwara) and Etsu Muhammed (Niger) stepped down for Adamu.
Two members of the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, Ken Nnamani, a former Senate President, and Ismail Ahmed, a former National Youth Leader, both of whom were to contest positions at the convention lost out.
Nnamani lost to Enaukwu as the Deputy National Chairman (South) while Ahmed lost the National Organising Secretary position to Argungu from Kebbi State.
Enaukwu, a former national officer with the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress for Progressives Change, was the National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the APC under Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole leadership.
Get a premium automobile insurance coverage for your vehicle for as low as #15000 only and claim up to #3,000,000 in damages @Zenith Insurance To signup: WhatsApp/Call: +2349028313757
