Last minute intervention by the Presidency and the 24 governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress the ruling party of Nigeria paved way for affirming and endorsing key officers of the party’s National Executive Committee at its first National Convention in the Eagle Square in Abuja.
The only key positions that were doggedly contested for included that of the national organizing secretary, national woman leader and national publicity secretary.
Initially there were fears that the exercise would be plagued by distrust and protests, considering the controversies that dominated the build up to the convention.
Out of the 62 positions for grab at the national level, 42 of them were pencilled to be decided by the 6,800 delegates drawn from the 36 states of the federation through the ballots because party leaders could not convince some of the aspirants to step down.
The 24 APC governors had through several meetings before succeeding in reducing tension by securing consensus for about 20 elective positions when many aspirants withdrew from the contest.
The Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, announced before the commencement of the programme that the positions had been fielded through affirmation.
He mentioned the names of the winners to the hearing of delegates and observers who affirmed the process through voice vote.
Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State was the first to be affirmed as national chairman of the party because there was no other contender.