Protesters Besiege APC Secretariat, Hold Oshiomhole, Others Hostage
Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman
• Party inaugurates appeal panel on primaries
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has set up a five-man appeal committee to consider petitions arising from the party primaries conducted across the country.
The inauguration of the panel came just as hundreds of protesters besieged the headquarters of the party.
The protesters, who came from Nasarawa, Kano and Niger States, blocked the gate of the APC.
The music blasting protesters came at about 5 p.m. and took over all the entry and exit points at the APC secretariat chanting anti-Oshiomhole songs.
The protesting party members said they are against the action of the party leadership in granting automatic tickets to some of the aspirants.
Most of the staff and national officers of the party, including the National Chairman, Oshiomhole, were held hostage for hours at the secretariat.
After hours of stand-off, the leadership of party prevailed on the aspirants believed to have brought in the protesters to talk to them.
A man, who addressed the protesters in Hausa language, urged them to disperse after which they began to leave the secretariat.
The appeal committee which is headed by former Governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, also have Hon. Mike Ugwa (Secretary), Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, Bashorun Reuben Famnyibo and Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu as members.
Speaking at the inauguration of the appeal panel, Oshiomhole expressed hope that they would be able rise beyond sentiments to do justice to the assignment.
Oshiomhole said they have till Tuesday to complete the job as the party hopes to commence forwarding of names of its candidates to INEC as from Wednesday.
“I know you are going to face challenges mainly from those who do not have facts to back their petitions and will want to cause distractions,” he said.
The national chairman charged the committee to ensure completion of the panel’s assignment between yesterday and today (Tuesday).
THISDAY gathered that the party has received over 20 petitions protesting against the outcome of the congress.
While responding on behalf of the committee, Osunbor said they would do their best to attend to all the petitions.
“We want to assure you that we are fully aware of the enormity of the work assigned to us and also that we are determined to doing justice to the task before us,” he said.
