Is True APC Interim Chairman, Akande Stepped Aside As APC Interim Chairman; And Office Zoned To South-South, South-East

                                         

The interim National chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande, will not seek retention of his seat at the forthcoming national convention of the party.

Vanguard reports that his decision not to contest despite appeals from senior party figures, including a prominent national leader, would open the way for the implementation of the recommendation of the party's governors that the office be moved out of the South-West to the South-South or South-East.

Already, party elders, it was learnt, are canvassing two prominent figures from Edo State— Chief Tom Ikimi and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun— as replacement for Akande, who has been commended for his stabilising role in the merger of the former Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, into APC.

Akande, 75, who has successfully steered the affairs of the party towards becoming the opposition party, sources in the party say, would step aside based on age.

When asked about the development, he told the paper that "What I have in mind to do for now is not for the pages of the newspaper."

The respected politician had served as Deputy Governor to the late Chief Bola Ige who was Governor of the old Oyo State between 1979 and 1983 and was eventually elected Governor of Osun State in 1999.

Vanguard