Intrigues as APC settles for Idele as woman leader

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has settled for Edo State-born Dr. Mary Alike Idele as its National Woman Leader. Idele replaces Dr. Betta Edu from Cross River State who was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

Edu, who was apparently unhappy over the refusal of the Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) to pick her nominee from Cross River, stormed the national secretariat of the party at about 6.30 p.m., yesterday.

She met with Ganduje behind closed doors to register her protestation over the development. Edu’s visit came barely 24 hours after the former national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, was sighted at the party’s secretariat to push for selection of Idele as national woman leader of the party.

A similar drama also led to the selection of Donatus Nwankpa as the National Welfare Secretary after the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives outsmarted Ikechi Emenike, who is said to prefer Martins Azubuike.

The party also named Duro Meseko from Kogi State, an ally of James Abiodun Faleke, as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party. Meseko replaced Yakubu Ajaka who dumped the party to contest for Kogi State governorship seat on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Other appointees unveiled by the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, during a media briefing on the outcome of the NWC meeting held at the APC National Secretariat, include the Deputy National Chairman, North (North East Zone), Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno State).

The list includes National Vice Chairman, North West (North West Zone), Garba Datti Muhammad (Kaduna State), who replaced Dr. Salihu Lukman, among others.

The party also picked Prof. Abdul Karim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa State) as Legal Adviser (North Central Zone) and the Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central Zone), Ikani Shuaibu Okolo (Kogi State).