As the All Progressives Congress (APC), heads for its national convention on Saturday, the 125 delegates from Enugu State have adopted former Edo State Governor, Adams Oshimhole as their sole candidate for the position of national chairman.
DAILY POST reports that the decision was taken after a meeting by the delegates at the Party’s secretariat in Enugu.
This was announced on behalf of Enugu delegates by Dr Ben Nwoye, the state chairman of the party.
Addressing a press conference in Enugu on Monday, Nwoye equally re-affirmed the decision of Enugu delegates to stand with Hon. Emma Eneukwu for the position of National Vice Chairman, South-East, Osita Izunaso for National Organising Secretary and George Muoghalu for National Auditor.
Nwoye said Enugu delegates adopted Tina Adike for Deputy National Women Leader, Sally Chinedu for Zonal Women Leader, Paul Chukwuma for Zonal Youth Leader, Sunday Chukwu for Deputy National Financial Secretary, Nduka Anyanwu for National ex-officio and Jonah Mkpuruka for the South-East Zonal Secretary.
“Furthermore, Enugu is proud to be the first state in the South-East and Nigeria to have adopted Adams Oshimole as its sole candidate for the national chairmanship position.
“Agreed that the other two contenders for national chairman, former governor Clement Ebri and former Governor, Professor Osunbor are qualified to head the party. But, looking at the leadership credentials of Oshimole, his days in labour, days as governor, struggle in ACN, belief in democratic principles, his belief in fighting for others, his pragmatic approach to resolving disputes, we believe he will lead the party to greater heights and sustain the achievements of our outgoing chairman, John Odigie Oyegun” Nwoye said.
He thanked Oyegun for his wonderful leadership of APC, saying his name has been written in gold as the first national chairman to lead an opposition party in an election to defeat a ruling party in Nigeria.
Nwoye, however, dissociated Enugu APC from the ambition of Chief Onyemuche Nnamani to run for the National Vice Chairman, warning that it could dwindle President Buhari’s votes in Enugu state during the 2019 presidential elections.
He explained that if Nnamani goes, it would mean that Enugu East senatorial zone, which already has the state chairman, produces the National Vice Chairman, thereby controlling all the apparatuses of the party at the state and zonal level, shutting out other important segments of the party.
He warned that such a situation could whip up negative sentiments against President Buhari and the APC from the other senatorial zones.
“If he (Onyemuche) wants to create a dynasty of Nnamanis, it is wrong. Nnamani’s conspiracy must stop. They have produced a former SSG. They have produced a former Governor. This will be resisted. They should allow others to rise,” Nwoye said.
Comments