3.5m members take part in our peaceful congress, says Lagos APC chair, Balogun

CHAIRMAN, Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Tunde Balogun, on Wednesday said the chapter held a peaceful, transparent and democratic congress for the election of delegates to the national convention across 245 wards, disclosing that no fewer than 3.5 million card-carrying members of the party participated in the exercise.

Balogun said this while speaking with the APC State Secretariat on the Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja, noting that the peaceful exercise was witnessed by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Balogun commended party members for shunning unruly behaviours during the exercise, urging them to repeat the same conduct during the APC National Convention holding in Abuja next month.

According to him, the elected delegates were fully representative of the wards and local governments in accordance with democratic norms, urging the party faithful to brace up for the proposed direct primaries for the election of party flag bearers for elective positions.

“What has taken place at 12 noon today in all the local government areas in Lagos was the participation of all card-carrying members of the APC in the Congress for the election of delegates to the national convention holding in Abuja next month.

“Over 3.5 million duly registered party members took part in electing and ratifying the delegates. The delegates will go and elect our presidential candidate next month at the convention,” he said.

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While thanking members for trooping out to participate in the Congress, the APC chairman said the exercise was to demonstrate beauty of democracy, describing Lagos as unique.

“It was the beauty of democracy. Lagos APC is huge. We have a database of over five million members and we are still registering. The exercise took place nationwide. In Lagos, it took place in our 20 local government areas and 245 wards,” he said.

Balogun added: “The exercise was monitored by INEC. It was peaceful, orderly, transparent and democratic. The exercise was successful. I can also assure that our proposed activities, particularly the direct primaries for the election of flag bearers for the 2019 elections will be peaceful, orderly, transparent and democratic.”

The chairman, however, urged party followers who had not registered to do so to become legal and legitimate members of the party, saying that intending members can either register at the wards or at the state secretariat of the party.

“We welcome our new members. We urge those who are yet to register to do so and we assure our new members that they will have a sense of belonging based on equity and justice,” he said.