Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has appointed FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, to its Election Campaign Council for Governor of Bayelsa State.
Wike, the immediate former governor of neighboring Rivers State, ranks sixth on the list released by APC national organizing secretary Suleiman Arugungu on Tuesday.
The ruling party also released the list of campaign council members for the Kogi and Imo gubernatorial elections, which will be held by INEC on November 11.
Interestingly, Mr. Wike The appointment came a few days later. The PPD also named him to its campaign council for the same Bayelsa poll.
Wike, along with other G5 governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and the current Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, openly rebelled against the DPP in the run-up to the presidential elections on February 25. .
The group was born after the PDP presidential primary election won by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku defeated Wike and others to become the party’s presidential candidate.
The G5, led by Wike, demanded the resignation of former PDP national chairman Iyorchia Ayu to pave the way for a southerner to lead the party and achieve “regional balance.” While making their demands, they openly opposed Atiku and refused to campaign for him.
Wike, who took over as FCT minister in the federal APC administration last week, has yet to defect from the PPD.
Ahead of the general election earlier this year, the former governor openly supported President Bola Tinubu and was later appointed as a minister by the president.
Following his appointment as minister, Wike said he wrote letters to DPP acting national chairman Umar Damagun, incumbent Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and minority leaders in the Senate and House, seeking their permission. to accept the offer.
This is not the first time the APC has included non-party members on its campaign council.
In 2022, the ruling party included Chimaroke Nnamani and Kassim Afegbua, both from the PPD, as members of its presidential campaign council.
However, he later withdrew them after some protests.
Governor Yahaya heads Bayelsa campaign council
The APC Bayelsa campaign council will be chaired by Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya, while Defense Minister Abubakar Badaru, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Federation Government Secretary George Akume will serve as co-chairs.
The council is tasked with continuing Timipre Sylva’s campaign, which is running against the incumbent governor, Diri Douye, and others.
Abiodun and Otu will chair the Kogi and Imo campaign councils
The ruling party also appointed Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State as Chairman of the Kogi State Campaign Council.
Abiodun will be assisted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor Umar Bago of Niger State and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State as co-chair of the campaign council.
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The campaign council will try to ensure victory for the party’s gubernatorial candidate Usman Ododo, who is up against Dino Melaye of the PDP, Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and others.
Meanwhile, the party has also appointed Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu as Chairman of the Imo State Campaign Council.
Also chairing the council are Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, House of Representatives Vice President Ben Kalu and State Minister for Labor and Employment Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
Hope Uzondinma, the state’s governor, is seeking re-election and is up against Athan Achonu of the Labor Party (LP), Sam Anyanwu of the PDP and others.
See the complete list of members of the campaign councils for the governorship of Bayelsa, Imo and Bayelsa below:
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Let hear it in the comment below if you do have an opinion on this; APC includes Wike as ruling party and constitutes campaign councils for gubernatorial elections in Bayels, Imo and Kogi (FULL LIST)