There was confusion at the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress on Saturday in Abuja as three different “Unity List” emerged preparatory to the commencement of voting for positions with more than one contestant and affirmation of those without opponents.
This led to the announcement of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman and 19 others as confirmed elected members of the National Executive Committee of the party and the leaving in abeyance of the other positions, about 40 of them.
According to those at the convention, three different lists were allegedly presented to members by President Muhammadu Buhari through his aides, Governors elected on the platform of the party, and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It appeared, perhaps, that the only meeting point was that of the National Chairman from the lists sighted by The Eagle Online.
For the National Secretary, while the Governors opted for Wazari Bulama, Buhari backed Kashim Ibrahim and Tinubu supported Alhaji Bunu Yadi.
The list allegedly presented by Tinubu did not contain the name for the Deputy National Chairman (South), a position to which both the Governors and the President chose former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.
For the Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Farouq Adamu Aliyu was on Tinubu’s and the Governors’ list, while President Buhari endorsed Senator Lawal Shuaibu.
For the position of the National Publicity Secretary, the Governors preferred retaining Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, while Buhari and Tinubu signed on for Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Both Issa-Onilu and Abdullahi are from Kwara State.
Abdullahi is a confidant of the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Issa-Onilu, it was gathered, had the support of President Buhari.
A source told The Eagle Online: “The Governors largely ignored the list presented by President Buhari.
“The sad thing about it all was that they gave the President the impression they were with him on his list, only for theirs to surface at the last minute.”
As at press time, the full list of members of the APC NEC was yet to be released.