Ambode, Bankole, Dogara named members of APC strategy committee

A former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; a former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, have named as part of a 61-member high-powered strategy committee raised by the ruling All Progressives Congress aimed at rebuilding the party.

John Akpanudoehede, national secretary of the caretaker/extraordinary convention planning committee (CECPC), in a statement issued on Monday, said the committee had been constituted as part of efforts to rebuild and reposition the party.

While Daniel and Bankole recently defected, Ambode renewed his membership of the party in February. The former Lagos governor was denied the APC’s ticket for reelection in 2018.

Akpanudoehede said the committee would be inaugurated on Tuesday.

The committee is made up of 12 serving APC governors, senators, house of representatives members, and other party chieftains, while Mohammed  Abubakar, governor of Jigawa state, will serve as chairman.

Other members of the committee are Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the House of Representatives; Sadiya Umar Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs, and Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo.

Also on the committee are Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, 11 governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council and some party chieftains.

Daniel and Bankole have given reasons for their defection to the ruling APC.

They spoke after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday at the State House in Abuja.

Buni and Governors Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa) and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) accompanied the duo to the Presidential Villa for the meeting.

Addressing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Buni said he was at the State House to present the new party members to the President.

The Yobe State governor said President Buhari was happy with the defectors.

Explaining why he joined the ruling party, Daniel said, “Why APC? There are too many options in the party. One thing is sure: we are going through health and economic challenges. We must do less of political contestations and give support.

“One thing that is for sure is that the entire world is going through challenges that are global, economic and health-related. When you are in a situation like this, as I usually opine, we should do less of partisan contestation. All of us must come together to support whoever is in power.

“What we have decided to do is to come and give our support to the President so that, jointly, we can continuously navigate the country. That is what is relevant.”