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Sun. Jul 27th, 2025
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Former Governor of Edo State, Dr. John Odigie-Oyegun, was on Friday  night elected as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party held its national convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital territory.

The party also elected other officials to run its activities, conducting the election based on a zoning principle earlier set by the Senator Ngige-led convention planning committee.

The intrigues that led to the emergence of 74-year old Odigie-Oyegun as chairman saw Sam Jaja and former governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva, stepping down.

It was learnt that Tom Ikimi, another top contender for the position was absent at the convention. Ikimi had not been comfortable with recent activities in the party and politics pundits predict that he may consider defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is now gaining ground in Edo State.

Before the convention Oyegun, had been a top party members’ most favoured to replace Chief Bisi Akande, who had been chairman of the party in interim capacity since the merger between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Timipre Sylva, on the other hand was the candidate of the governors in the party, especially those from the north. He was however persuaded to step down for Oyegun.

Former National Secretary of the defunct ACN, Lawal Shuaibu, was elected as Deputy National Chairman (North), former Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State was elected as APC Deputy National Chairman (South).

Shuaibu won his position after former member of the House of Representatives from Jigawa State, Farouk Aliyu, a candidate supported by former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, was also persuaded to step down.

Other elected officials include Mai Mala Buni from Yobe State who emerged as the new National Secretary of the party, to replace Tijjani Tumsah who was the interim National Secretary of the party and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was returned as the National Publicity Secretary of the party unopposed.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had, after voting told journalists that the party leaders from the northeast geopolitical zone, where the position was zoned to, had agreed in favour of Buni. They also convinced Kashim Imam, a former presidential liaison officer to step down.

Elections into other offices of the party had not been concluded at the time of this report as the convention which began late Friday was disrupted by heavy rains.

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