APC Women Divided Over Visit By Leader To President Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

Betta Edu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) national women leader is swimming in stormy water as some of her colleagues rose against her style of leadership.

But as she is battling with vote of no confidence passed by other elected female national officers, another set of female members of the party from 36 states stoutly rose to back Edu’s actions.

The elected female national officers of the APC and zonal women leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the leadership of Edu.

The aggrieved officers are led by Omorede Osifo, APC Deputy National Treasurer, and eight other women leaders.

Edu and some women had visited Tinubu at the Presidential Villa two last week.

However, the APC-elected women executives and zonal leaders  unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in Edu and distanced themselves from her recent visit to the President.

They accused Edu of misrepresentation and self-aggrandizement during her visit to the Presidential Villa.

According to them, Edu does not represent the elected National Women Officials and Zonal Women Leaders of the party, contrary to reports circulating in the media.

They asserted that many of the women paraded were fake, not the democratically elected national officers, including National Executive Council Members, Zonal Women Leaders, three women senators, 15 female House of Representatives members, and other relevant women leaders and stakeholders.

The aggrieved female leaders pleaded with Tinubu for an audience to hear their grievances.

However 36 State Women Leaders of the APC including that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  passed a vote of confidence on  Edu.

The confidence vote was passed during a recent visit by Edu to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The 37 State Women Leaders described Edu’s leadership as exceptional, inclusive and responsive, saying she was steering the ship of women emancipation in the country effectively.

According to them, the entire country could attest to the role she played in the last elections.

A statement endorsed by the women leaders’ forum appealed to all APC women to remain calm and be rest assured that their interests were well represented.

“We understand their desire and anxiety to meet with Mr. President and we assure them that the President will also be very happy to meet with them all. She runs an open-door policy.

“However, the engagements will happen in batches, and more women will be involved.

“Let’s be patient and be rest assured that the request presented by the National Woman Leader and the women from the 36 states of the federation, as well as the FCT, covered  all Nigerian women and APC women in particular, who worked so hard for his victory in the last elections. Everyone will be rewarded in due course.”