Barely 24 hours after the emergence of the Senator representing Nasarawa North, Abdullahi Adamu,as the new national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a video of him and the Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu has emerged online.
The video which has since gone viral shows both Senators and APC Chieftains engaged playing the local Chess Game popularly called “draft board” in Senator Adamu’s hometown in Nasarawa State.
Both former Governors and current Senators in the 9th Assembly, were captured smiling as they engaged one another in the friendly contest. The Video has however generated so many reactions from different social media platforms with some Internet users describing Orji Kalu as a Master Strategist.
According to findings, although Senator Orji was reportedly absent from the event held at Eagle’s Square yesterday, most of his preferred candidates made it to the unity list of the APC and were subsequently declared winners . Asides being Senators in the 9th Assembly Both Kalu and Adamu were both former Governors of the respective states within the same period (1999 – 2007).
Barely a week ago, the Kalu and the Senate Caucus of the party endorsed Adamu, they made the declaration on Thursday during the launch of Adamu’s campaign headquarters in Abuja.
The launch of the campaign headquarters located at No 78 Emeka Anyaoku Street, Area 11 Garki in Abuja witnessed the attendance of the leadership of the Senate. Those in attendance include Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo Agege; Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu , Senator Ali Ndume, Senator Adamu Aliero and Senator Barau Jibrin. Others include Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Tahir Monguno as well as party stalwarts and supporters.
Adamu’s victory was announced on Saturday night by the Chairman of the Election Sub-Committee, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State at the just concluded APC national convention. Other candidates in the unity list who emerged as winners after a voice vote include;Senator Abubakar Kyari as Deputy National Chairman (North), while Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim (Taraba) was confirmed as Deputy National Women Leader; Muhazu Bawa Rijau (Niger) emerged as National Vice-Chairman (North-Central), Salihu Lukman (Kaduna) was confirmed as National Vice-Chairman (North-West) while Emma Eneukwu (Enugu) was confirmed as Deputy National Chairman (South).
Notably amongst the winners is the newly elected National Youth Leader of the ruling party, Dayo Israel who paid a nocturnal visit to Orji Kalu at his Aso Villa home where he appealed to the Senate Chief Whip to back him for the position. During the meeting Israel pleaded with the former governor to intervene in the issue between him and his fellow opponent Dada Olusegun, who had refused to withdraw from the race despite not being nominated by the Lagos State Governor and South West leaders of the party. After the meeting Kalu assured Israel of his support and immediately expedited actions by reaching out to other delegates from the South-East and other zones to throw their weight behind Israel.
Meanwhile ,voting and announcement of results for the about 78 positions up for grabs at the APC national convention ended at about 8.40am on Sunday. The newly elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have also been sworn in in Abuja.
@OUKtweets, Newly Elected @OfficialAPCNg National Chairman, Adamu Spotted Playing Draft Game#APCNationalConvention #Buhari pic.twitter.com/30ykdFoK1L
— ABN TV (@abnonlinetv) March 27, 2022
Led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, members of the NWC took their oath of office with President Muhammadu Buhari Leaders and members of the party in attendance. Badaru said of the 36 offices in the NWC only five were contested while the rest were through consensus.
