Again, two groups claim leadership of Kwara APC

TWO separate groups are laying claims to be authentic executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state.

The groups are led by Alhaji Isola Balogun-Fulani and Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa.

Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state, Hon. Bashir Bolorinwa has said that his committee remains the authentic executives in the state.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the state commissioner of Police, Aminu Saleh, in Ilorin on Friday, Hon. Bolarinwa said that the Balogun Fulani led executives had been dissolved by the National Working Committee of the party.

This is just as the state chairman of the party, that was allegedly dissolved by the National Working Committee of the APC, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani is still laying claim to the seat.

Balogun-Fulani led exco had even approached the court to challenge the caretaker committee.

“I want to use this opportunity to tell you that as far APC is concerned in Kwara state, you have no set of people that will always represent APC other than this set of people here today”

“After the dissolution of the executive committee of the party in the state, a caretaker committee headed by me was set up by the national working committee, but fortunately or unfortunately, we immediately after the set up we swung into a very serious work, that probably accounts for why this visit is belated. It is better late than never.

Interestingly, same day and at about same time in Ilorin on Friday, chairman of the APC in the state, Alhaji Isola Balogun Fulani addressed ward chairmen of the party along with their local executive committees, advising them against rejecting prospective members as the party braces up for membership registration and revalidation.

Asked how his group would secure the register needed for the exercise given the fact that the NWC had ‘dissolved’ them, Balogun-Fulani said the APC has in stock party registration materials but would still look forward to receiving more documents from the NWC.

“We are sensitising our members to get ready so that any day the national executive says we should commence we would not be caught napping”, he said.

Balogun- Fulani, who said his leadership of Kwara APC is recognised by the court, added that his leadership was ready to instil discipline and necessary sanction on any ward chairman who shows favouritism or intimidate old or prospective members who come for the registration.

“Our doors are wide open, we, therefore, implore all Kwara residents to come out in large numbers and take advantage of this open-door and register in their wards as bonafide members of the APC.”

Also speaking during the courtesy visit paid by Hon. Bolarinwa, the state Commissioner of Police Aminu Saleh promised that the police would continue to provide security for all including political parties in the state.

“The visit is timely since the dissolution of the state executives of the party and the setting up of the caretaker committee we have not formally met with your committee.

This is an important opportunity for us to know one another one on one so that we can relate more effectively.

“Of course, we know that this visit ought to have been done much earlier, by the time that they came on board there were a lot of tasks which we all understand. It is not easy to manage a political party in a state that is politically vibrant like Kwara state.

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“So the belated visit is forgiven. Our primary responsibility is to ensure security in the state, without that political game cannot be played well. In that regards, we shall continue to give our assistance to all the parties in the state”.

Also, the dissolved Ishola Balogun-Fulani led executive has urged his members and ward chairmen with their working committee to be prepared for the registration of new members and re-validation of old members in their wards.

Addressing reporters in Ilorin, Balogun-Fulani said the party register “will be distributed to every ward. All old members coming for re-validation should produce for sighting their membership cards for authentication.

“I use this medium to inform our registration desk not to reject anyone who wants to register, for the party is ready to instil discipline and necessary sanction on any ward chairman that shows favouritism or intimidation tendency to anyone.”