In a move to calm the tension generated ahead of the April 14 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello yesterday held a meeting with all the gubernatorial aspirants and major party stakeholders in Abuja.

The meeting earlier slated for the Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja was shifted to Hilton Transcrop Hotel to accommodate the enlarged number of attendees at the emergency troubleshooting meeting.

Seventeen aspirants were cleared by APC National Working Committee (NWC) to contest the April 14 governorship primary.

Although no formal communique was issued after the meeting, a top government official who was in attendance told our correspondent in Abuja that the meeting went a long way to defuse the tension building up ahead of the party primary, as all aspirants were assured of a level playing ground.

According to our source, “the meeting was at the instance of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, primarily to douse tension ahead the primary so that all aspirants can be assured of a level playing ground for the primary.”

Urging those who may not win at the primary to be patient and work for the success of the party, the governor reminded all the aspirants that there are enough positions to go round in the incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He then promised to continue to consult with all stakeholders and charged the aspirants to caution their followers against making incendiary comments.

According to our source, “the governor assured all the aspirants of a level playing ground, noting that his administration was a product of a system and that the same system and party members will determine the party flag bearer at the November 11 governorship election.”

On the mode of primary, the governor was quoted to have said that the party will determine the mode of election for the primary billed to hold on the 14th of April.

He also warned against people resorting to legal actions against the party, saying APC has a robust internal mechanism for settling disputes.

The aspirants in attendance include the state’s deputy governor, Edward David Onoja; the Senator representing Kogi West and former National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Senator Smart Adeyemi; and the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Abdulkareem Asuku.

Others were Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka; son of former Governor Abubakar Audu, Prince Shauibu Abubakar Audu; former Executive Director, Rural Electrification Agency, Sanusi Ohiare; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Salami Momodu O. Deedat; and the Auditor General Local Government, Usman Ododo.

Also in attendance were the Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Crime, Senator Oseni Yakubu; Halima l. Alfa, Momoh Jibrin, Alh. Yusuf Yakubu Okala, Hon. Asiru Idris, Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni, Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu, Idachaba Friday and David A. Jimoh.

The high-level meeting also had members of the national and state assemblies, members of the state executive council, local government council chairmen, members of the APC State Working Committee and local government party chairmen. (The Nation)

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