Akande, el-Rufai, others named APC interim officers

After several weeks of delay, the opposition All Progressives Congress has named Chief Bisi Akande, as its National Chairman. It also named former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Masari as its Deputy National Chairman, North. The decision was reached after a closed door meeting in Abuja, late on Monday. Spokesman for the Congress for Progressive Change, Mr. Rotimi Fahakin, confirmed this development to our correspondent in Abuja, on Tuesday night. He said the appointment which was “part of the requirements (set by INEC) for the registration of the new party was a collective decision of all the merging parties.” Fashakin said, “The current National Secretary of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Tijani Tumsa emeged the interim national secretary. “(Former Speaker of the House of Representatives) Aminu Masari is the Deputy National Chairman North. “Chief Tom Ikimi is the National Vice Chairman South-South. Chief Niyi Adebayo is for the South-West.” Others are General Abdullahi Aboki for the North Central and Senator Annie Okwonkwo is for the South East. Alhaji Lai Mohammed retains his post as Publicity Secretary while Nasir El-Rufai was named Deputy National Secretary. The Independent National Electoral Commission had directed the merging parties to put in place a national executive as part of the registration procedure.