JUST IN: APC welfare officer, Nwosu, dies in Abuja hospital

The National Welfare Officer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a member of the National Working Committee, Friday Nwosu, has been reported dead. Nwosu, a party chieftain who once contested the Abia State governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party before defecting to the ruling APC, was admitted to an undisclosed health facility in the Federal Capital Territory. He was discharged on Wednesday, returned to the same hospital for a routine check‑up on Thursday, and, according to a source, relapsed and was rushed to the intensive care unit where he died.

“His death has jolted all the NWC members, including the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu. I am sure the secretariat will release an official report tomorrow morning,” the source said. At the time of this report, Nwosu’s remains had been deposited at the mortuary. Attempts to reach the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, for comment were unsuccessful. The APC’s official Twitter handle announced the demise at about 8:20 p.m., stating: “RIP SIR F.N. NWOSU. Words are not enough to describe the monumental loss brought by the passing of the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Sir Friday Nwosu, on the APC family. May his soul rest in peace.”

Nwosu’s last official assignment before the presidential and National Assembly elections was a press conference on February 10. He appealed to former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, and other disgruntled stakeholders to reconcile with Abia governorship candidate Ikechi Emenike in order to wrest the state from the Peoples Democratic Party. Ogah, also a governorship aspirant, had challenged the Court of Appeal’s decision in Abuja that overturned his candidacy. A five‑member Supreme Court panel, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Tijanni Abubakar, found Ogah’s appeal without merit. The ruling deepened the rift between Ogah’s supporters and Emenike’s camp, a situation the ruling party feared could jeopardize its chances in the state election. Addressing journalists, Nwosu urged the warring factions to lay down their swords and work for the party’s victory, pleading with Ogah to dissolve his political structure and join forces with Emenike.