Abacha’s Former CSO, Hamza Al-Mustapha Emerges AA Presidential Candidate

A former chief security officer to the late Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha, has emerged as the presidential flag bearer of the Action Alliance (AA) for next year’s election.

He got 506 votes to defeat his only contender, Samson Odupitan, in the party’s presidential primary held in Abuja on Thursday.

Two other aspirants, Felix Osakwe and Tunde Anifowose, stepped down from the contest to support Al-Mustapha.

While 972 delegates were billed to vote in the election, 851 were accredited out of which 721 votes were cast.

In his acceptance speech, Al-Mustapha, who thanked AA’s electoral committee for the successful poll, also lauded Odupitan for not withdrawing from the race.

“I also commend Mr Odupitan for contesting because if everybody withdrew, there won’t be a victory as we have seen today,” he added.

He also called on members of the party to get their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to ensure the AA emerges victorious in next year’s exercise.

Also speaking during the event, the National Chairman of the AA, Kenneth Udeze, congratulated Al-Mustapha and other aspirants. He called on members of the party to rally around him to make the party victorious.