The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has in a unanimously decision appointed the party’s National Vice-Chairman (South-South) Prince Hilliard Etta as acting National Chairman, pending the return of Senator Ajimobi.
According to the statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu on Wednesday 17th June 2020, the NWC said due to Senator Ajimobi’s unavoidable absence, NWC unanimously appointed Prince Hilliard Etta to act on Senator Ajimobi’s behalf.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said the action to appoint Prince Hilliard Etta as Acting National Chairman was backed by the Party’s constitution, which empowers the NWC to appoint one of its members in an acting capacity and stipulates that the acting National chairman must be from the zone of the National Chairman.
He said NWC took the decision having risen from a meeting at the Party’s National Secretariat on Wednesday to affirm Sen. Abiola Ajimobi as the Party’s Acting National Chairman. It also follows the Appeal Court’s ruling affirming the suspension of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as National Chairman and in line with Section 14.2 (iii) of the Party’s Constitution.
He also said that committees for the Party’s Edo State Governorship Primary Election scheduled for Monday 22nd June 2020 and Election Appeal scheduled for Wednesday 24th June 2020 were also named by the party.
*Primary Election Committee*
1. Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma – Chairman
2. Sen. Ajibola Bashiru – Secretary
3. Alh. Abdullahi Abass
4. Hon. Ibrahim Sabo
5. Hon. Ocho Obioma
6. Hajia Amina Lantana Muhammed
7. Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye
*Primary Election Appeal*
1. Prof. Mustapha Bello – Chairman
2. Dr Kayode Ajulo – Secretary
3. Hon. Umar Ahmed
4. Nasiru Ibrahim Junju
5. Hon. Rasaq Mahmud Bamu
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu also noted the recent ruling of a High Court which declared Hon. Igo Aguma as the Party’s acting chairman in Rivers State. He said: “In compliance with the court ruling, our party has recognised Aguma has Rivers State acting Chairman pending when new congresses will be held to elect party executive members at the ward, local government and state levels”.
“Sixteen members of the NWC attended the meeting held at the Party’s National Secretariat (13 members attended physically and three others joined the meeting online),” he added.