In a surprising turn of events, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that it has not officially released campaign council lists for the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states. The party’s position has caused confusion among political observers and party members alike.
The off-cycle elections, scheduled for November 11, have been a focal point for the APC’s preparations. However, Muhammad Argungu, the APC’s organizing secretary, revealed on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that the lists of campaign councils, which had been circulating, were not authentic. He indicated that the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, had indeed approved the formation of campaign councils in collaboration with the national working committee (NWC).
In the now disavowed lists, notable figures were designated to lead the campaign efforts. Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun was listed to head the campaign council for the Kogi governorship, while Inuwa Yahaya, the governor of Gombe, was slated to lead the party’s campaign council in Bayelsa. Additionally, Bassey Otu, governor of Cross River, was appointed to head the campaign council in Imo. Each council was reported to consist of a substantial number of members: 135 for Kogi, 123 for Bayelsa, and 138 for Imo.
Prominent politicians were also named as members of the campaign councils. Kogi’s council boasted members such as Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mohammed Bago, and Uba Sani. The Bayelsa council included figures like Senate President Godswill Akpabio, George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), and Betta Edu, minister of humanitarian affairs. Imo’s council was meant to include Francis Nwifuru, governor of Ebonyi; Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house of representatives; and Rochas Okorocha, a former senator.
However, shortly after the release of the lists, the APC reversed its stance, stating that the lists were not official documents of the party and should be disregarded. Felix Morka, the party’s spokesperson, addressed the issue, declaring that the lists were not accurate representations of the campaign councils. This abrupt change left many puzzled, especially considering that the party had initially asserted the authenticity of the lists.
Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), was initially listed as a member of the Bayelsa campaign council. His name was later removed from a revised version of the list before the party ultimately withdrew all versions of the lists.
This unexpected turn of events has left both party members and the public bewildered, raising questions about the party’s internal coordination and communication. As the APC strives to clarify the situation, the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states remain the focus of political attention, with uncertainties lingering about the composition of the campaign councils that will guide the party’s strategies for the polls.
