- The APC celebrates Chief Bisi Akande as a veteran grassroots politician and political progressive, crediting him for the party’s success
- Akande, former interim national chairman, is acknowledged for his unifying role, invaluable contributions, and foundation-laying for the APC’s triumphs
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed Chief Bisi Akande, the former interim national chairman of the party, as a veteran grassroots politician and a symbol of political progressivism who laid the groundwork for the party’s triumph in the 2015 general elections.
In a statement released on Monday by Barrister Felix Morka, the national publicity secretary of the APC, on the occasion of Akande’s 85th birthday anniversary, the party commended the former governor of Osun State as a unifying figure within its ranks.
The APC, formed in 2013, appointed Akande as the interim national chairman during the merging parties’ meeting in Abuja to fulfil the party’s registration requirements. This move was in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) directive for the merging parties to establish a national executive as part of the registration procedure.
While Chief John Odigie-Oyegun later emerged as the substantive national chairman at the national convention in June 2014, held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, it was under his leadership that Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) secured victory in the 2015 presidential election.
The statement thanked Chief Akande for his invaluable contribution to the party’s founding and credited him for laying the foundation for the historic electoral victory in 2015. Describing him as a father figure, unifier, and advocate of reason, the APC acknowledged Akande’s role as a promoter of peace and reconciliation among the party’s leaders and members.
The APC, along with family, friends, associates, and party faithful, raised a toast to Chief Akande, celebrating him as a patriot, elder statesman, grassroots politician, administrator par excellence, and an icon of political progressivism.