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The ruling All Progressives Congress on Friday labelled the viral list of its 197-party bigwig recruited for the Edo governorship campaign council that included the late Anambra lawmaker, Ifeanyi Ubah as fake.
The controversy trailing the Edo APC campaign train for the September 21, governorship election comes three weeks after Ubah’s death was announced.
The businessman-turned-politician died on July 27, in London, United Kingdom at the age of 52.
But when the ruling APC released its list for the campaign train on July 31, through its National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, some Nigerians reacted over the inclusion of the late lawmaker.
Many critics of the ruling party and a few publications (not PUNCH) also took advantage of what they call an embarrassment following similar goofs made by the previous government of former President Muhammadu Buhari when the list of appointments was announced.
In the APC campaign list, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, was a surprise inclusion with Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu appointed as the chairman.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and former Edo Governor Adams Oshiomhole were also announced as co-chairman and deputy chairman, respectively.
Other members include Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Assistant Secretary), Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun; his counterpart in Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other governors elected on the platform of the APC.
Reacting to the development, the ruling party described it as a ruse deliberately employed by online critics to embarrass the party.
In an exclusive phone chat, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, told our reporter that it was disrespectful to attempt to use the name or image of a deceased in an old document in such a manner.
He said, “What they are brandishing is not the official updated version from the party. The party has since done the needful by updating the list. You can visit our sites and handles to see things for yourself.
“Ubah was an active and administrative member of the party. That he made the list in the first place was not unexpected.
“But mischief makers will always hold on to an old document, especially in this day of social media mischief and continue to display that with the intent of ridiculing the party and disrespecting the man who is supposed to be resting. It is not just ridiculous but also disrespectful.”
Findings by our correspondent revealed a disparity between the controversial document trending online and the actual one released on the APC official X account three weeks ago.
While the viral list has ‘Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’ squatting prominently on the number 23 spot on the finance committee chaired by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the one posted on the site reflected ‘Senator Sani Musa.’
