Facts have emerged on why the All Progressives Congress dropped the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as Chairman of the National Convention Central Coordination Committee and replaced him with former Katsina State governor, Aminu Masari.

Some senior officials of the APC told Sunday PUNCH that the leadership change was necessitated by the need to accommodate and show respect to ‘old leaders’ of the party.

The APC convention is scheduled for March 27 and 28, 2026.

In a statement by its National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, on Friday, the party announced the change in the central coordination committee, unveiling Masari as the new chairman and former Senate President, Pius Anyim, as Vice Chairman I.

Uzodimma, who was a few weeks ago announced as the chairman of the 73-member committee, was reassigned as the treasurer in the new arrangement.

Responding to enquiries from Sunday PUNCH, APC officials said the party leadership decided to change the committee’s leadership because of zoning considerations and the need to give a sense of belonging to old leaders of the party.

A current member of the National Working Committee of the APC said Masari and Anyim represented old leaders of the party and were considered suitable to lead the convention committee.

“The leadership of the party felt that the old leaders should be accorded the respect of holding the chairmanship position. That was why they settled for Alhaji Masari and also Senator Pius Anyim. They are experienced hands of the party and, for now, are not seeking political office. So, they may be more even-handed in bringing their experience to bear in those positions.

“The convention committee leadership change has nothing to do with whether somebody has something against Governor Uzodimma, contrary to speculations. That is why he was chosen as the treasurer of the committee. He will still play a very prominent role in the convention, particularly as the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum,” said the NWC member, who does not want to be identified because he was not authoritised to speak on the matter.

Another ranking party leader said the APC played the ‘zoning card’ to decide the new convention chairman.

He said since President Tinubu is from the South, it would be appropriate to have a northern APC leader as the convention chairman.

“When you also look at the composition of the committee, it is all-embracing. Aside from the governors, we have all the principal officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly, as well as former presiding officers who are members of the party. It also has all the former national chairmen who are still within the party,” the official said.

He added that the committee was all-inclusive to give a sense of belonging to stakeholders of the party.

“The committee also has some other key functionaries from the Federal Executive Council, like the Ministers of Defense, Interior, Works and others.

Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared her intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports, on Saturday.

The former commissioner ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus is firmly on the governorship race.

“So moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.

“Like the American would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.

“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”

The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.

“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.

Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.

FCT Minister and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has said that any senator, House of Representatives Member, Minister, or governor who supports betrayers will suffer betrayal in their lives and that such person will join their creator when they experience their own betrayal.

Wike who is currently in a running battle with his godson and incumbent governor of Rivers state, Sim Fubara, said this while speaking at a public function in the state today February 6.

Speaking to the crowd at the public function, Wike said

‘’Wether you are a Senator, House of Reps member, a Minister or Governor, and you support betrayers, people will continue to betray you in life. You see people who betray and support them, betrayal is your portion! Betrayal is your portion! and that day you will not have mouth to say anything and there you will collapse and there you will go and they will announce such person has died because that is the seed you have planted because whatever you plant, you reap and so since you are sowing betrayal, betrayal will always follow you.

Watch! Every governor who is doing his second term and has ambition to put a successor and is supporting betrayals, you will never survive it. Betrayal will follow you. From the day your successor comes in. My own took so many months, your own will start immediately the person has been inaugurated. That is what the gods of the land have told me to tell all of you’’

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUdaCp1jD01/?igsh=MWVnZXoyaGNmOGJ5dA==