POWER TUSSLE: Parallel Apc congress looms in Kwara and Ogun State

Parallel Apc congress looms in Kwara and Ogun State

There was confusion on Friday among members of the Ogun and Kwara State chapters of the party as factional leaders prepared to hold the congresses independent of one another.

Supporters of Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, were both seen preparing to hold the congresses.

A stakeholder meeting of the party leaders failed to agree on modalities for the congresses, as of Friday. None of the factions interacted with the media on what form or shape the congresses would take.

However, the WCC set up by the APC National Secretariat arrived in Abeokuta on Friday and announced modalities for the conduct of the Ward Congress in the 236 wards across the state.

This was contained in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Friday. He quoted the Chairman of the committee, Chief Wale Ohu, as announcing the modalities.

According to the statement, the exercise will commence at 9am on Saturday with the accreditation of party members at designated points in each of the 236 wards of the state.

In Kwara, the two major factions in the state chapter of the party expressed preparedness for the exercise. The state Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, appealed to all party members to conduct themselves peacefully.

Also, members of the party loyal to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said they were prepared for the congress and had purchased nomination forms from the committee sent by the party’s National Secretariat to oversee the congresses in the state.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State chapter of the party, on Friday, announced that it was opting for a consensus in electing leaders at the ward level.

Governor Yahaya Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Edward Onoja, at a stakeholder meeting of the party in Lokoja, warned members against going against the directive. It was also agreed that persons who must occupy the office of youth leader must not be more than 35 years old.