Edo Governorship: APC Deploys Oyegun, Oshiomhole, Ganduje, 46 Others Against Obaseki

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a 49-member National Campaign Council for the September 19, 2020 Edo State governorship election, with Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje appointed as chairman.

The party’s Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee announced the composition of the council in a statement issued by Deputy National Publicity Secretary Yekini Nabena.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma was named deputy chairman, while Abbas Braimoh was appointed secretary of the campaign council.

Two former national chairmen of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, were also included in the campaign team.

Their inclusion attracted attention because both men had taken different positions during the political crisis that preceded the APC governorship primary in Edo State.

Odigie-Oyegun had supported Governor Godwin Obaseki, who later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party after being disqualified from the APC primary, while Oshiomhole was widely associated with the emergence of Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the APC governorship candidate.

The disagreement had earlier prompted Odigie-Oyegun to call for the dissolution of the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee.

Nabena said the campaign council was approved by the Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.

Other prominent members of the council included Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, governors Inuwa Yahaya, Yahaya Bello and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as Aliyu Wamakko, Godswill Akpabio, Orji Uzor Kalu, Rochas Okorocha, Timipre Sylva and Pius Odubu.

The council was expected to coordinate the APC’s campaign and mobilise support for Ize-Iyamu as he challenged incumbent Governor Obaseki in the Edo governorship election.