12 govs, Dogara, Bankole, Omisore make APC contact c’ttee list

Twelve governors, two former speakers of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and Dimeji Bankole, are among the 61man contact/ strategy committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The committee, which will be inaugurated today by the Chairman, Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, has Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru as chairman while Dr. Ikechi Emenike will serve as secretary.

Details of the terms of reference of the committee were unavailable when this report was filed. It was, however, gathered that it would play a critical role in the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Caretaker committee secretary Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement on Monday, said the development was part of ongoing efforts by the committee to rebuild and reposition the party.

Other members of the committee include Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege; former and serving members of the National Assembly, ministers and some party chieftains including Otunba Iyiola Omisore, who recently joined the party.

Why I took ex-speaker, Daniel to Buhari – Buni

Meanwhile, Buni, has explained why he took Bankole, and a former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Bankole and Daniel, who joined APC recently, were at the villa on Monday.

While Bankole defected to the APC from Action Democratic Party (ADP), Daniel moved to the ruling party from the PDP where he served as the director-general of the campaign organisation of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the presidential candidate of the party in 2019.

Buni, was with two of his colleagues; Mohammed Badaru ( Jigawa) and

Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).

The APC caretaker chairman, while addressing State House reporters, said they came to present the new party members to President Buhari.

In his remarks, Bankole said he joined APC to give support to the effort the president was making, adding, “there are issues we need to solve and any reasonable human being should support that at this moment. From Borno to Lagos, Bayelsa to Sokoto. These are critical times and we shouldn't be found wanting.

Daniel, while speaking, explained why he joined the ruling party, saying “we join to give our support to the president.”