National chairman of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) Chief Odigie Oyegun has described as childish, Monday endorsement of former Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the south-south consensus candidate for the office of national chairman of the ruling party.
The convention has been fixed for May 14 with the position of national chairman retained in the south-south geopolitical zone.
Certain leaders of the party from the zone, led by its national vice-chairman, Hillard Eta at a meeting in Edo state pronounced Comrade Oshiomhole as the zone adopted candidate.
The resolution was however rejected by state chairmen of the party from Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa state, leaving the former Edo state governor with the support of Edo state and scant backing from Cross Rivers and
Delta.
Tribune Online checks revealed that Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi and his counterpart, in the Ministry of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Usani were absent at the meeting which took place at the Edo State Government House.
But speaking with newsmen on Tuesday at the APC national secretariat, Chief Oyegun said the endorsement was “childish, absolutely childish. The voting Congress is done at the convention and not in state houses, not in government houses.”
Oyegun said he was not bothered by the purported endorsement which he claimed was stage managed by the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki.
“No, it doesn’t because one of those who want my job is from Edo and he was the immediate past Governor and he was very instrumental in installing the present governor, so I think it is a case of rub my back I rub your back that is playing out.
“They have their reasons for what they did and you have to respect their own reasons, however wrong it is. Don’t bother about this teaser, I will give a comprehensive interview, to speak with you people when the time comes.”
The APC chairman was however silent on whether he would be seeking for a fresh mandate in the forthcoming national convention.
“Well, I’m going to know when the convention committee announces their programmes, then when I’m going to buy a form if I will re-contest I will let you know.”
Further findings revealed that sale of forms for the respective offices will commence today.
