Kogi Guber: Crisis Hits APC As Disqualified APC Aspirants Set To Dump Party

Ilesanmi AdekanbiAugust 27, 2019

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Bearing last minutes change, about 12 governorship aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi state may join the opposition Action Democratic Party (ADP) and present a common front ahead of governorship election in the state.

Recalled that at a press briefing on Monday, some of the disqualified aspirants had threatened to drag the APC to court to challenge the decision to screen them out, adding that they may be left with no option than to pitch tent with one of the opposition parties.

Out of sixteen aspirants, the APC only cleared four to contest the primaries slated for this week Thursday include; the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello, Hon. Hassan Baiwa, Engr Bashir Gegu and one Mrs Ekele.

Addressing a press conference Tuesday in Abuja, the National Chairman of ADP, Engr. Yabagi Sani, also confirmed that some of the aggrieved aspirants in Kogi and Bayelsa, who earlier this week screened out of the race have approached the leadership of ADP.

Yabagi said: “So, I can confirm to you that we are discussing, and I can confirm that we in the ADP will ensure a level playing field for all unlike what they are experiencing in APC,” referring to the aggrieved aspirants.

Meanwhile the party has began preparations to bring into its fold a large chunk of young persons across the country.

Revealing its plan to hold a youth summit, the first of its kind in the history of the party, with the theme: “Building bridges among youth across continents”, ADP national chairman, said the party has invited one of the youngest members of the British Conservative Party with a rising profile from the United Kingdom, Mr. Jaymey Mclvor, as the guest speaker at the summit.

Yabagi also revealed that his party has launched a campaign tagged “Not-Too-Young-To-Win” to increase youths competency and participation in politics.

He said: “Amongst the various topics for discussion as carefully put together by the planning committee are: Youth Political orientation, insecurity as a bane of youth development in Nigeria, Youth migration and its impact on our Socio-economic Development, Bi-lateral Trade with Youth as Catalyst, and Human Capital Development.

“The theme for this Summit was deliberately selected for Pair Review, Networking and Synergy to develop skills required for effective competitiveness in the global economic arena.

“Furthermore, this will provide the hands on experience required by our youth to develop and take advantage of the huge natural resources, young population and limited natural disasters on the African continent and Nigeria in particular.While this maiden edition is holding in Lagos State, South West Nigeria, similar summits will hold quarterly to reflect participation by geo political zones on rotational basis.”

While commending the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde for appointing a 27 year old as a commissioner, ADP national chairman said: “To advance this development, ADP admonished politicians to jettison tokenism and embrace youth empowerment as demonstrated by this trail blazing event which will be held on Sunday, 1st September, 2019 at Radisson Blu in Lagos state.