The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Abdullahi Ganduje, has disavowed the lists of National Campaign Councils for the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. The party clarified that the lists circulating in sections of the media are not official documents and should be disregarded.
Party spokesperson, Felix Morka, released a statement on Tuesday night addressing the issue, stating, “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to National Campaign Council Lists for the 11th November, 2023 Governorship Elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States in circulation in sections of the media. The lists are not official documents of the Party and should be disregarded.”
Earlier on Tuesday evening, the APC had announced the formation of three National Campaign Councils for the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. However, the controversy emerged when a list of council members circulated, prompting the party to distance itself from those lists.
Notably, the Bayelsa Campaign Council list included Nyesom Wike, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister. He was ranked sixth on the initial list released by the APC. This caused concern among party members and led to questions about the authenticity of the list.
The APC has faced similar controversies in the past, including an instance in October 2022 when the party included a PDP chieftain and Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Mr. Chimaroke Nnamani, in its Presidential Campaign Council. The party subsequently reversed its decision and removed Nnamani from the list.
In the newly released governorship campaign lists, the APC appointed Gombe state Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, to chair the Bayelsa Campaign Council. Cross River state Governor, Bassey Otu, was named chair of the 138-member Imo Campaign Council, while Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state would lead the 135-member council for Kogi.
The Kogi campaign council also includes three Co-Chairmen: Govs. Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos), Umar Bago (Niger), and Uba Sani (Kaduna).
Imo’s campaign council features Ebonyi state Governor, Francis Nwifuru; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; and Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha as Co-Chairmen.
For Bayelsa, the Co-Chairmen are Defence minister, Mohammed Badaru; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
