…Ekiti Governorship: Governor Al-Makura Chairs APC’s 5-Member Primary Election Committee
… Party Declare No Preferred Candidate for Election
APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun addressing Imo APC stakeholders at a meeting held at the Party’s National Secretariat inb Abuja on Wednesday. He is flanked by the National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni (right) and the Deputy National Chairman (North), Sen. Lawali Shuaibu (left).
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) led by the Party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on Wednesday met with stakeholders of the Party in Imo state with a view to resolving disputations in the state chapter.
The stakeholders comprising the Deputy Governor of the State, Eze Madumere, Senator representing Imo North, Ben Uwajumogu, the National Organising Secretary of the Party, Sen. Osita Izunaso, Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume, some state executives and other stakeholders which met with the leadership at the Party’s National Secretariat submitted a memo to the NWC detailing contentions matters arising in the Imo State chapter.
Imo APC Stakeholders during the meeting
Speaking on behalf of the Imo APC stakeholders, Chief Okey Ikoro called on the Party’s National Leadership to urgently address the disputation to avoid jeopardising the party’s electoral chances in the state and indeed the South East region ahead of the 2019 general elections.
“Shops are been destroyed without compensation being paid to owners, workers are owed months of salaries, pensioners have not been paid for a long time,”, lamented Ikoro.
The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said the party leadership would look at the petition with a view to resolving the issues.
“I thank you for coming jointly. I promise on behalf of the NWC that we will do, one, all we can to maintain level playing ground. Two, pursue avenues for a reconciliation of the various groups and tendencies in Imo state.
“Imo must lead the charge in the entire South East. So, it is a painful thing to see that we are divided but I am happy that in your speech you have opened doors of unity. I want to assure you that we on our side will do everything possible to take up your complaints, your reservations so that an acceptable compromise can be reached that will make it possible for us to fight as one party. I am not unaware of the issues. I am certainly not unaware. I am a Nigerian. As party national chairman, all of these issues come to my table. There has to be unity but there cannot be unity without justice. So there must be justice”, the APC National Chairman said.
NWC members present at the meeting were the National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni; Deputy National Chairman (North), Sen. Lawali Shuaibu; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; National Auditor, Chief George Moughalu; National Treasurer, Alh. Bala Gwagwarwa; National Vice Chairman (North East) and National Vice Chairman (South East), Hon. Emma Eneukwu
APC National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso (right) in a handshake with the Governor of Nasarawa State, H.E. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and Chairman of the Party’s Ekiti governorship 5-member Primary Election Committee after the latter’s inauguration at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the party on Wednesday appointed the Governor of Nasarawa State, H.E. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to chair the Party’s five-member primary election committee to elect the Party’s flagbearer for the 2018 Ekiti governorship election.
The APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso on behalf of the Party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun also inaugurated a three-member primary appeal committee chaired by Amb. Fati Balla.
The primary election is scheduled for Saturday, May 5.
Other members of the primary election committee include: Hon. Magaji Aliyu (Secretary); Mr. Duke Oshodin; Barr. Robert Okwuego and Mr. Tunde Balogun. The appeal committee include: Capt. Bala Jibrin (Secretary) and Mrs. Lilian Obenwa.
During the inauguration of the committees at the Party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Izunaso who said the APC was poised to win the Ekiti governorship election, charged the committee to ensure a transparent exercise.
He declared that the party has no preferred candidate.
“If we conduct a transparent primary, any aspirant that wins will surely become the next governor of Ekiti state… The party has no preferred candidate, there is no such thing in our lexicon. It does not exist. All aspirants are equal until after the election” Izunaso stated.
The National Organising Secretary who disclosed that the official delegates list has been given to all aspirants said no petition has been received on the list. He said all thirty-three aspirants have been cleared by the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to contest the primaries.
Izunaso urged the primary election committee to convene a stakeholders meeting with aspirants and party chieftains in the state to agree on modalities for the primaries.
Tanko Al-Makura and Chairman of the Primary Election Committee who spoke on behalf of the committee said they would work according to their terms of reference and adhere to guidelines to make the primary transparent.
