FACT CHECK: Did APC ‘Sideline’ Women In Edo Primary Committee?

As the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) bites harder, the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has accused her party of sidelining women in the Edo primary election committee.

She claimed that no woman is among the committee overseeing the primary election, currently taking place on Monday.

The Edo chapter of APC on Sunday posted a picture of the committee with only male members on its official Twitter page, with the caption “Members of the Edo State Primary Election Committee led by Hope Uzodimma have arrived Benin City ahead of tomorrow’s exercise.”

FLASH: Members of the Edo State Primary Election Committee led by @HE_HopeUzodimma have arrived Benin City ahead of tomorrow's exercise. #EdoDecides2020@OfficialAPCNg @DeeOneAyekooto @APCUKingdom @gloria_adagbon @Mr_JAGss @Mr_JAGss @MsTyma_ @onailu07 @inecnigeria @A_Oshiomhole pic.twitter.com/im5NwhkYLO

— APC, Edo State (@EdoStateAPC) June 21, 2020

This got the attention of Mrs Dabiri-Erewa who claimed that the party refused to honour women in the committee.

“Na wa o . APC. Not a single woman ? Haba !!!!!”, she retweeted.

Na wa o . APC. Not a single woman ? Haba !!!!! https://t.co/JijcTyzLko

— Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) June 21, 2020

Her tweet immediately caught the attention of several online news platforms and tweets became a trending topic on those news platforms reported here, here, here, here and here.

But how true is this?

On June 18, the National Working Committee of the ruling APC inaugurated a seven-member panel for Edo State governorship election primary and another five-member appeal committee.

The inauguration, held at the APC secretariat in Abuja, was chaired by the party’s vice-chairman (South-south), Hilliard Etta, who represented, acting national chairman, Abiola Ajimobi who is battling with an undisclosed illness.

The election committee inaugurated its head as the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, while a senator, Ajibola Bashiru, was made the secretary.

Other members include Abdullahi Abass, Ibrahim Sabo, Ocho Obioma, Amina Muhammed, and Gbenga Elegbeleye.

Amina Jane Mohammed is a Nigerian-British diplomat and politician who is serving as the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, she was Nigerian Minister of Environment from 2015 to 2016. And was a key player in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Verdict

Based on available evidence, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa was WRONG to have said APC did not include a woman in Edo primary committee.