Former chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have effectively taken over the leadership of the ruling party, APC.
Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in it’s just concluded national convention elected officers to fill the positions in the party’s national working committee (NWC).
Interestingly, politicians who defected to the ruling party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are now holding key positions in the NWC.
APC which was formed in 2013 is a merger of four political parties namely — Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and a part of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and some aggrieved members of PDP
But at the party’s just concluded elective convention, some former PDP members were elected into key NWC positions, leaving foundation members out in the cold.
Mary Ekpere, former director-general of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) who was in the CPC, was reportedly persuaded to withdraw from the race for national women leader.
Betta Edu, Cross River commissioner for health who defected to the ruling party in 2021, was declared winner of the position.
Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman of the APC, and Iyiola Omisore, national secretary of the party, were former PDP members. These are the two most powerful positions in the party.
Here is a full list of former PDP members now holding key roles in APC;
Abdullahi Adamu, national chairman
Iyiola Omisore, national secretary
Festus Fuanter, deputy national secretary
F.N. Nwosu, national welfare secretary
Mustapha Salihu, national vice-chairman (north-west)
Muazu Bawa Rjau, national vice chairman (north-central)
Nze Chidi Duru, deputy national organizing secretary
Ahmed El-Marzuk, national legal adviser
Uguru Matthew Ofoka, national treasurer
Betta Edu, national women leader
Abubakar Maikafi, national auditor
