The All Progressive Congress Chairman in Edo, Anselm Ojezua, and 10 members of the dissolved executive committee were on Saturday retained in the party’s new executive committee in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 11 persons were among 36 executive members, including four ex-officio members of the party elected through consensus by the delegates at the party’s congress in the state.
Other former executive members re-elected are: Lawtence Okah, State Secretary; Chris Azebame, State Publicity Secretary and George Ohioma, State Legal Adviser.
Others included: Valentine Asuen, State Youth Leader and Aisosa Amadasun, former Women Leader, now State Organising Secretary.
Chairman of the Congress Committee in the state, Prof Okey Onyejekwe, who announced outcome of the congress, had said earlier that the congress’ delegates made his assignment easy by adopting consensus option.
He explained that the option was in line with Article 20, Sub-section ‘A’ of the APC Constitution.
In his acceptance speech, the re-elected chairman, Ojezua, re-affirmed the executive committee’s commitment to deliver on efficiency.
He said that the party in the state, had demonstrated that choices could be made through consensus and yet be all-inclusive.
The chairman expressed delight that the party was currently much bigger, united, peaceful and stable in the state, compared to previous years.
A total of 1, 265 delegates participated in the congress in the state.
In Bayelsa 36 candidates were returned unopposed through voice votes.
Col. Ahmed Usman (retd), Chairman, Electoral Monitoring Committee of the Congress in the state, said that 566 delegates voted out of 568 accredited to vote.
Usman said: “In all, we have only one `no’ vote, 517 ‘yes’ votes, 48 invalid, making a total of 566 votes.
“I therefore declare the vote of ‘yes’ for the winner of the state congress, Jothan Amos as Chairman; Martin Alabo, Secretary; and all other positions that have been elected unopposed.”
Accepting the victory, Amos expressed delight and thanked delegates and leader of the party in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, for their support.
He said that he would be relentless in working hard to ensure that the party took over power in the state in 2020.
In Cross River, Godwin Etim-John was elected Chairman of the party in the state, and Martins Achadu clinched Deputy Chairman’s position.
Ernest Eki was elected Vice Chairman (Central) while Francis Ekpenyong and Mike Agbe were elected Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
Chairman of the Congress Committee, Husseini Adamu, had assured that the congress would be transparent and fair.
Secretary of the Congress Committee, Reginald Owakwe, who congratulated the newly-elected executive committee members of the party in the state, urged them to carry all members along in their activities.
Owakwe also charged them to work very hard with a view to winning Cross River in the 2019 elections.