Security operatives, including armed policemen and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), yesterday took over the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to maintain law and order amid protests.
Members of the party from Kogi and Cross River States had stormed the party’s national secretariat in protests against the appointment of members of the National Working Committee (NWC) by the party’s leadership.
The development delayed the swearing in of the newly appointed NWC members, as the police and NSCDC officers strategically positioned along the entrances of Blantyre Street, where the headquarters of the party is located, had a hectic day trying to contain the protesters who were not ready to shift ground.
The protesters defied the presence of the gun-wielding police officers, causing vehicular and human traffic.
The arrival of Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, in the secretariat in the morning hours fueled the tension around the secretariat, as his supporters from the state became even more obstinate.
It was not clear at the time of writing this report whether it was the protest that stalled the inauguration of the newly appointed NWC members which was billed to hold yesterday.
The ruling party had on Wednesday named Duro Meseko (Kogi State) as the new deputy national publicity secretary (North Central) in replacement of Yakubu Ajaka who was said to have been suspended by the ward executive of the state chapter of the party.
Meseko was purportedly recommended by James Faleke against the candidate recommended by Governor Bello.
The Cross River APC members were protesting the announcement of Mary Alile Idele, from Edo State as national women leader (South South Zone) as allegedly recommended by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, instead of Dr Stella Odey-Ekpo, the candidate of the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Beta Edu.
Edu, the former APC national woman leader, was said to have have stormed the party’s national secretariat around 6.20pm immediately after the announcement to protest the party’s decision to dump her candidate who had already practically resumed office and left 45 minutes after.
On his part, Governor Bello, who arrived in the APC secretariat on G-Wagon told journalists that he will not give up until the mistake is corrected.
“This issue must be sorted out today,” the governor who spent about seven hours waiting for the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, said.
He left in the evening when it seemed the APC chairman was not going to make it to the office.
It was learnt however that the inauguration of the new NWC members was still going to take place, but journalists and other staff of the secretariat began to leave the party’s headquarters at about 10:14pm when they realised that the national chairman was not coming.
Announcing the appointments of the NWC members, national secretary of the party, Sen Ajibola Basiru, during a media briefing on the outcome of the NWC meeting, named Ali Bukar Dalori from Borno State as deputy national chairman, North (North East Zone) of the party.
Dalori replaces Senator Abubakar Kyari who later served as acting national chairman of the party before he became the minister of Agriculture.
He also named Hon Garba Datti Muhammad from Kaduna State as replacement for Malam Saliu Lukman who resigned his appointment as national vice chairman (North West Zone).
Also, Prof Abdul Karim Abubakar Kana from Nasarawa State was appointed national legal adviser (North Central Zone). He replaced Ahmed El-Marzuk, who resigned from the party’s NWC.
Donatus Nwankpa from Abia State emerged as national welfare secretary (South East Zone), while Mary Alile Idele from Edo State was appointed as the national women leader (South South Zone).
Duro Meseko from Kogi State was named the deputy national publicity secretary (North Central), while Ikani Shuaibu Okolo from Kogi State (North Central) was appointed as the zonal organising secretary.
