Buhari’s ministers, Lai Mohammed, Aregbesola to fight back as APC inaugurate state excos

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday inaugurated its state executives amidst tight security at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

The inauguration saw some prominent politicians who organised parallel congresses in their states losing out. 
In Osun State, the Minister of Interior and former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, who has been at daggers drawn with the state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, over the control of party structure lost out as Prince Adegboyega Famodun, who emerged as state chairman of the party from the governor’s fold, was inaugurated.  

Meanwhile, no exco was sworn in for Kano and Sokoto states. Sources said there was no inauguration for Kano because the case between the camp of the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and a former governor of the state, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and Senator Jibrin Barau over the control of party structure was still in court. 
In Zamfara State where the party is neck-deep in crisis with three factions fighting one another, Alh. Tukur Umar Danfulani who emerged from Governor Bello Matawalle’s group was sworn in while a former governor of the state, Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Garba Kabiru Marafa lost out.  

Read Also: Afe Babalola rejects Tinubu, Atiku, says Nigeria needs young President

In Kwara State, Prince Sunday Adeniran Fagbemi who emerged as state chairman from the camp of the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was sworn in while the current Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed lost out.

The state chairmen inaugurated are Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu (Abia), Alh Ibrahim Bilal (Adamawa), Mr Augustine Enefiok Ekanem (Akwa Ibom), Hon Basil Ejike (Anambra), Alh Babayo Aliyu Misau (Bauchi), Dr Dennis Otiotio (Bayelsa), Mr Augustine Agada (Benue), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori (Borno), and Mr. Alphonsus Orgar Eba Esq. (Cross River).

Similarly, Elder Omeni Sabotie (Delta), Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha (Ebonyi), retired Col David Imuse (Edo), Barr. Omotosho Paul Ayodele (Ekiti), Chief Ogochukwu Agballah (Enugu), Mr Nitte K Amangal (Gombe), Dr Macdonald Ebere (Imo), Hon. Aminu Sani Gumel (Jigawa), Air Cdre Emmanuel Jekada (Rtd) (Kaduna), Alh. Muhammed Sani (Katsina), Alh. Abubakar Muhammed Kana (Kebbi) and Hon. Abdullahi Bello (Kogi) were all sworn in.

Others are Prince Sunday Adeniran Fagbemi (Kwara), Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi (Lagos), Mr John D Mamman (Nasarawa), Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro (Niger), Chief Yemi Sanusi (Ogun), Engr Ade Adetimehin (Ondo), Prince Adegboyega Famodun (Osun), Hon Isaac Omodewu (Oyo), Hon Rufus Bature (Plateau), Chief Emeka Bekee (Rivers), Hon Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi (Taraba), Alh Muhammed A. Gadaka (Yobe), Alh. Tukur Umar Danfulani (Zamfara) and Alh. Abdulmalik Usman (FCT).

The state excos were inaugurated by Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, without any oath of office, amidst tension and tight security.
Chairman of Borno State who doubles as Chairman of APC State Chairmen, Hon. Bukar Dalori said, “Let us also use this opportunity to assure members in our respective states that we shall work with every party member to ensure APC protects Nigeria from those who destroyed it in the past.”
It was, however, gathered that the aggrieved chieftains of the party are set to fight back. Already litigations are in courts in some states including Zamfara.