From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
INDICATIONS emerged yesterday that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed Governor of Katsina State Aminu Bello Masari to chair the committee that will conduct primaries for the Edo State governorship election billed for Friday June 17.
Although a member of the NWC refused to confirm the speculation, Masari’s presence at the APC national headquarters in Abuja, where he consulted with the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, for several hours and the National Organising Committee, yesterday, gave enough indication that he would chair the committee.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives refused to speak with newsmen who waited several hours to confirm his mission at the secretariat. He promised to address the media today, which coincides with the inauguration of the committee to conduct the election.
Appointment of Masari will be in line with the tradition of the ruling party using sitting governors to oversee state primaries with Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai going to Kogi State and Adams Oshiomhole to Bayelsa State.
A reliable source at the secretariat told Daily Sun that the choice of Masari is in line with the determination of the party’s national leadership to ensure that a free, fair and credible primary is conducted, following allegations that Oshiomhole had anointed a particular candidate.
“What other confirmation do you need with his presence at the secretariat today and the wide consultations he made with almost the national leadership of the party? The committee to conduct the primary will be inaugurated today ahead of the primary this weekend and he has promised to talk to the media, probably after the inauguration. “Don’t also forget that the national leadership needs a credible person to conduct the primary, due to allegations from other aspirants, about the governor anointing and favouring a candidate,” another source added.