By Emeka Ejere
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday announced some of the results of its elective National Convention ongoing at the Eagles Square in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
After a long process, Chairman of the National Convention Committee and Jigawa State governor, Abubakar Mohammed, revealed the names of candidates that have won their elections so far.
Earlier, former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was affirmed the new APC National Chairman by members of the party while 17 aspirants won other offices unopposed.
Here are some of the results announced so far;
Bolaji Abdullahi – National Publicity Secretary
Sunday Chukwuma – Deputy National Financial Secretary (polled 2,613 votes)
Adamu Fanda – National Treasurer (beat three other aspirants by 2,891 votes)
Ado Oguta – Deputy Legal Adviser (won by 1,454 votes)
Hillary Ekpe – National Vice Chairman (South-south) (won by 2,320 votes)
Emmanuel Omachukwu – National Vice Chairman (South-east) (won by 2,839 votes)
Jacob Chukwuma – National Financial Secretary
Inuwa Abdulkadri – National Vice Chairman (North-west) (won by 1,552 votes)
George Mohgalu – National Auditor
Isah Mabuchu – Deputy National Auditor (won by 2,675 votes)
Victor Geidam – Deputy National Secretary (won by 3,498 votes)
Ibrahim Waziri – National Vice Chairman (North-east) (won by 4,450 votes)
Lawal Shuaibu – Deputy National Chairman North
Emma Ebediro – National Organising Secretary
Nduka Ayongo – Ex-Officio (South-south)
Aminu Tumnaga- Zonal Woman Leader
Blessing Onuhua- Zonal Woman Leader (South-east)
David Okumba – Zonal Secretary (South-south)
Zuera Bakare- Zonal Woman Leader (North-west)
John Uwede – Zonal Secretary (South-east)
Timothy Amah – Zonal Organising Secretary (South-east)
Femi Ibedeyi – Zonal Organising Secretary (South-west)
Ade Fadileri – Zonal Organising Secretary (South-south)
Shuaibu Abdulrahman – Zonal Organising Secretary (North-east)
Gabriel Osuori – Zonal Youth Leader (South-south)
Onyeka Osimeka – Zonal Youth Leader (South-east)
Laoke Olanrewaju – Zonal Youth Leader (South-west)
Abubakar Sa’adu – Zonal Youth Leader (North-west)
Kasim Bello Maigari – Zonal Youth Leader (North-east)
Abubakar Shuaib – National Youth Leader
Afeez Bolaji – Deputy National Youth Leader
Salamatu Umar – National Woman Leader
Onye – Deputy National Woman Leader
More to follow…
Mr Oshiomhole, who was affirmed as the National Chairman of the party unopposed on Saturday, was sworn in on Sunday by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Ahead of his inauguration, the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee of the party were dissolved to make way for the new leadership.
It was a long wait for his inauguration as the National Convention dragged on deep into a second day.
Oshiomhole replaces Mr John Odigie-Oyegun who became National Chairman in 2014 and led the party into the 2015 general elections.
The former labour leader, however, has his work cut out for him as the party has battled internally crisis for months now.
Members of the party in some state are unable to see eye to eye and the internal divisions were evident during the ward and state congresses leading up to the national convention with parallel congresses held in some states.
The national convention was not spared of the dispute and divisions threatened to derail it at some point.
Despite heavy security presence at the Eagles Square in Abuja where the exercise took place, delegates from Imo and Delta became engaged in a free for all while President Muhammadu Buhari was addressing the convention.
Their dispute was, however, not as a result of the President speech. Rather, it was about old divisions among them worsened by disagreement over who to vote for.
The Imo delegates were allegedly divided with a group supporting the state governor and a second group supporting his deputy.
The situation in Delta is also reportedly due to conflicting loyalties.
In February, President Buhari had appointed the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, lead reconciliatory efforts in the party. The task of settling internal crisis and uniting the party will be one of the first challenges for the new National Chairman.
Just before the convention, Senators Ajayi Borrofice and Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, told Channels Television that there was a lot of work to be done to unite the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
According to Senator Borrofice, the outcome of the convention and the steps taken afterwards are crucial to the survival of the party.
On his part, Senator Akanbi believes Oshiomhole’s experience as the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) during the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration would come in handy.
He said, “Looking at his antecedent, he was once a leader of the labour union in this country.
“He has managed so many crises and I believe that if he eventually emerges, he has a lot of work to do. He can use his experience to resolve most of these problems.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done. I believe that before we go into the 2019 elections, a lot of aggrieved party parties should have been pacified and we need a united front to win the 2019 general elections.”