*passes vote of confidence on INEC
By Chesa Chesa
Former Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje has been elected as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party which met in Abuja Thursday.
The NEC, which is the 12th for the party, also elected Ajibola Basiru as National Secretary of the party. They were elected following motions moved by members at the NEC meeting.
Ganduje and Basiru were subsequently sworn into office immediately, in the presence of President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas who were among the many members of the party at the NEC meeting.
State Governors, past national executive members of the party and state chairmen, among other members of the NEC were also present.
Ganduje replaces former Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, while Basiru replaces Iyiola Omisore.
Adamu and Omisore were forced to resign two weeks ago following the dissatisfaction of the presidency and Tinubu loyalists with their positions on some matters concerning the party.
In his acceptance speech after his inauguration Ganduje promised to ensure internal democracy within the party while sustaining and expanding the number of elected positions secured by the party in the last general elections.
He also pledged to evolve a scientific database of registered members of the party, and manage conflicts quickly and effectively.
“Our party must remain rooted among the people, must demonstrate a willingness to serve and make sacrifices, and must be willing to acknowledge and address our weaknesses”, Ganduje said while promising that the party will have the masses as its focus under his leadership.
He urged party faithful in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa to close ranks ahead of the forthcoming governorship elections this year.
Ganduje finally pledged to administer the party with integrity and transparency.
Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, condemned what he termed blackmail against Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and incitement of Nigerians against the APC by opposition parties using false narratives and reports.
He moved a motion for vote of confidence on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was overwhelmingly adopted by the NEC meeting.
