APC's Lagos spokesman Joe Igbokwe favourite to replace Lai Mohammed as party voice

INFORMATION minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed looks set to be replaced as the publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the spokesman of the party's Lagos State chapter Joe Igbokwe.

 

Earlier this week, Alhaji Mohammed was sworn-in as Nigeria's information minister, meaning he will have to leave his position as the APC's spokesman. Mr Igbokwe, who has been very vocal, commenting on national issues frequently and rebutting attacks from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is seen as the ideal replacement.

 

APC leaders in Lagos and Abuja have begun working for Mr Igbokwe, an engineer and have already started nationwide consultations to ensure that he gets the position when the party hierarchy throws it open. Party sources add that Mr Igbokwe stands a good chance of getting the position considering his wonderful performance in Lagos APC and the fact that he has no other formidable opponent so far.

In his favour is the fact that Mr Igbokwe, a long-standing chieftain of the party in Lagos State, understands the workings and structures of APC and enjoys strong relationship with the media. Party leaders are also well disposed to his getting the position as they feel that only he is capable of matching and out-doing the PDP publicity secretary Olisa Metuh.

James Opara, the national president of Oganiru Ndigbo, a socio-political organisation, said that his body and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo have been contacted and are working to ensure the emergence of Mr Igbokwe whenever the position is officially declared vacant by the party. He described Mr Igbokwe as a visionary leader and politician who foresaw that change was imminent in the nation’s political equation, although his southeast brothers did not believe him until after the result of the 2015 general elections proved him right.

Mr Opara also stressed that with Mr Igbokwe’s success story in Lagos and the need to have a stronger southeast presence within the APC at the centre, the Igbo groups have decided to back him for the position. APC leaders are yet to officially declare the position open but with Mr Igbokwe coming from Lagos State which is home to several party leaders like Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, he is the clear front runner.