BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday took over the slot for National Women Leader as the party jettisoned the nominee from Cross River State to replace Beta Edu who has joined the Federal Executive Council as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Edu, from Cross River State was elected the National Women Leader at the party’s National Convention in Abuja last year.
Following her new appointment as a minister, the position became vacant, giving rise to her replacement.
The state was said to have presented Stella Odey-Ekpo for that purpose but the National Working Committee went ahead to ratify the nomination of Mary Alile Idele from Edo State.
In a related development, the tussle to replace the deceased National Welfare Secretary, Friday Nwosu tore the Abia State chapter of the party apart, as APC bigwigs from the state presented three different names to the NWC.
The Point learnt on good authority that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, former governorship candidate of the party, Abia State, Ikechi Emenike and a top party chieftain from the South East presented different lists. However, the party chieftain had the upper hand as his nominee was ratified at the NWC meeting on Wednesday.
The announcement was made 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.
The seven positions filled included Deputy National Chairman, North; where Ali Bukar Dalori who until Wednesday was the Borno State chairman of the APC and Chairman of Chairmen, replaced Abubakar Kyari, now a minister.
Garba Datti Muhammad from Kaduna State replaced Saliu Lukman also from Kaduna State as the National Vice Chairman, North West (North West Zone).
For the National Legal Adviser, North Central Zone, Abdul Karim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa State) replaced the former National Adviser, Ahmed El-Marzuq who resigned alongside the former National Chairman and National Secretary.
Donatus Nwankpa (Abia State) took the place of late Friday Nwosu as National Welfare Secretary (South East Zone) while the office of National Women Leader (South South Zone) is now held by Mary Alile Idele, (Edo State). She replaced Beta Edu (Cross Rivers State).
The position of Deputy National Publicity Secretary (North Central Zone) held by the present SDP governorship candidate for Kogi State, Yakubu Ajaka, was taken by Duro Meseko also from Kogi State.
Ikani Shuaibu Okolo from Kogi State became the Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central Zone).
