Security Personnel Take Over APC Secretariat

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Personnel from the Nigerian Police Force have taken over the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the swearing-in of newly appointed members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

The swearing-in of the newly elected members of the NWC is scheduled for 1pm Thursday (today).

The police have barricaded Blantyre Street Wuse 2, Abuja preventing motorists from plying the road.

This is even as protesters have stormed the party’s secretariat to protest against some on the newly elected members of the NWC.

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, also arrived at the secretariat in the early hours of Thursday.

His presence is believed to have contributed to heightening of the tension around the secretariat.

The announcement of the new NWC members Wednesday has bred bad blood within the party. 

For instance, the ruling party announced Hon. Duro Meseko (Kogi State) as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary (North-central zone) to replace Yakubu Ajaka, just as Ikani Shuaibu Okolo (Kogi State) takes the position of Zonal Organizing Secretary (North-central).

This resulted in the candidate of Yahaya Bello losing out to the candidate of Hon. James Faleke for the position of the deputy national publicity secretary.

Also, the party announced Mary Alile Idele from Edo State as the National Women Leader (South-south zone. Idele happens to be the candidate of Adams Oshiomhole, instead of Dr. Stella Odey-Ekpo, the candidate of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Beta Edu.

For Abia State, it was equally alleged that the candidates recommended by both the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and the state Chairman, Ikechi Emenike, both lost out to the candidate of Governor Hope Uzodinma.