ABUJA – Former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has been sworn in as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
Comerade Oshiomhole, who was affirmed as the National Chairman of the party unopposed on Saturday, was sworn in yesterday 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 takes over from Chief 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 internal crisis for months now.
Members of the party in some states 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, led 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.
After a long process, Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Governor Abubakar Mohammed (Jigawa State), announced the names of candidates that have won their elections so far as follows:
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, and Salamatu Umar – National Woman Leader.
