Chess Game In APC; Rochas, Tinubu In Cold War Over VP Slot

As  the All Progressive Congress, APC, prepares for its national convention  with John Odigie Oyegun favoured to pick the national chairmanship slot, a cold war  has reared its ugly head  in the party over the Vice Presidential ticket.

The two antagonists are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a leader in the APC and Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha

This blog had exclusively reported that Imo State Governor and Chairman, APC Governors Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha had backed the South South for the plum job as a ploy to scheme for the Vice Presidential ticket of the party.
Before now the South East was in contention for the national chairmanship position before Okorocha made a u- turn and aligned with the South South.

With the North likely to produce the party’s presidential candidate, Okorocha is alleged to be moving at  a frenetic pace to displace Tinubu for the number two position. 

 It was widely reported how Okorocha “demystified” Tinubu when he rallied round his governor colleagues in the APC to turn down Tinubu’s nomination of Kawu Baraje as Chairman of the Convention Planing Committee.

The Governors led by Okorocha recommended Governor Aliyu Wammako of  Sokoto State as Chairman and Senator Chris Ngige as Secretary which was accepted by party leaders and elders.

However,more drama is expected in the APC after its national convention. Tinubu is said to be relying on the fact that he controls six States and that is attractive to the North which is seeking for  bloc votes from any part of the South to back its quest to displace the PDP in the general elections.

 A source in the party told this blog “Some forces in the party loyal to Okorocha’s cause were said to have tabled a proposal to Tinubu to run for the senate and in the long run emerge Senate President in the event the APC secure majority in the next senate.
Tinubu was said to have flung away the proposal when he declared recently that he will be eying the presidential ticket of the party, as a bait to grab the VP ticket".

Sensing Okorocha’s deft moves, Tinubu was alleged to have convinced other party leaders to back his preferred choice for the party’s national chairmanship slot in the person of former Edo State Governor, John Odigie Oyegun as a move by the party elders to take control of the party and reduce  the influence of Okorocha’s led Governor’s forum.

It was unclear as at yesterday whom the Governors were backing for the position, though a source said the national caucus of the party may have adopted Oyegun for the plum job.