APC CONGRESS: Parallel excos elected in some states •As violence, boycott trail exercise

The crisis rocking several state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) reached a head on Saturday, as parallel congresses were held in several states of the federation while notable chieftains of the party boycotted the exercise in many states.

In Oyo, Ondo, Delta, Kogi and Kwara, factions of the party held congresses in different venues, with the battle for the soul of the party in the states now shifting to the Appeal Committee of the party, which will listen to grievances from all sides.

This was just as there were pockets of violence across some states, where feuding interests resorted to violence in the battle to outdo one another.

 

APC holds parallel state congress

Oyo APC holds parallel congresses, as Ajimobi promises to accommodate aggrieved members

The Oyo State chapter of the APC, on Saturday, held parallel congresses, which produced two sets of party executives, with the faction of the party loyal to Governor Abiola Ajimobi returning the incumbent state chairman, Chief Akin Oke, to office while the APC Unity Forum elected the incumbent deputy state chairman as the new state chairman.

While the faction loyal to the governor held its state congress at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, with members of the state congress committee led by Mr Abdullahi Gwarzo in attendance, the APC Unity Forum held its state congress at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

Some of those who attended the Adamasingba congress were former Governor Adebayo AlaoAkala; Senator Fatai Buhari; Oyo gubernatorial aspirant, Chief NiyiAkintola; federal lawmakers, Honourables Dada Awoleye, Saheed Akinade-Fijabi and Akeem Adeyemi; former Oyo Commissioner for Finance, Mr Zaccheaus Adelabu; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Bayo Adelabu; former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Ajimobi has expressed willingness to accommodate the aggrieved members of the party who held a parallel congress if they are willing to repent.

Noting that politics was usually ridden with agitation, interests, conflict and reconciliation, Ajimobi said he would accommodate those persons who propagate progressive ethos and eschew brigandage and thuggery.

He charged the Oke-led state executive council, which was returned through consensus for another four years term, to continue to work for the unity and peace of the party, and accommodate everybody.

“Politics is about give and take, about reconciliation, interest and whether you like it or not, there will be people that will be angry, greedy, selfish, but the most important is to accommodate others. Even God allows conflict but in the end, he accommodates everybody. The Almighty God has been so gracious to allow the devil to exist. We should allow those who go against us to exist; eventually they will come back.

Addressing journalists, Gwarzo said the committee was unaware of any other congress apart from the one it coordinated. In line with the directive of the National Working Committee of the party, he however said the committee sold forms for the congress to all APC members who had tellers, regardless what faction they belonged to.

In his own remarks on the current state of the party, AlaoAkala said he had offered himself to Ajimobi to lead the cause of reconciling all members of the party.

This was as the Unity Forum elected 33 other state officers at its congress held at the main bowl of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

Addressing the gathering, the Senator representing  Oyo Central Senatorial District, Hadjia Monsurat Sunmonu stated that gathering was not out of enmity but to ensure internal democracy within the ranks of the party, while the Minister of Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, said: “We are here to liberate ourselves, to free ourselves from limitations, to free ourselves from people who don’t believe in conducting primaries, but we are here to do it legally and for the progress of our party and for the progress of the masses generally.

“We need to do things in a democratic process and not as if we are under a tyranny leadership. The party in the state will remain solid and positioned for the forthcoming elections.”

APC leaders at the congress included Dr Busari Adebisi, Professor Adeolu Akande, Dr Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, Shittu, Alhaji Tijani Balogun, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Dr Yunus Akintunde, Honourable Bosun Oladele, Honourable Sunday Adepoju andHonourable Adedapo Lam Adesina, among others.

 

One dies in road crash, as deputy gov, NASS members shun congress in Jigawa.

ONE person lost his life while five others were injured on Saturday, as delegates to the APC state congress from Miga Local Government Area of Jigawa State were involved in a ghastly motor accident.

This was as the state’s deputy governor, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, three senators and members of the House of Representatives shunned the exercise held at the Aminu Kano Triangle, Dutse, where delegates disrupted the exercise over alleged insertion of delegates.

It took the combined efforts of security agents in the state to continue the congress, which was characterised by physical assault from some aggrieved party supporters.

Reports from the state indicated that the APC officials in the state were returned to their various positions unopposed, as consensus option was eventually adopted, with a former speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Idris Garba appointed as the chairman of the party.

Speaking shortly after the swearing in of the 36 APC state exco members, Badaru Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar cautioned opposition parties in the state to imbibe the culture of constructive criticism, saying no amount of intimidation or blackmail could deter him from excuting projects that have direct impact on the state citizens.

 

Nasarawa: Al-Makura charges party exco on integrity

Nasarawa State governor, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has advised the leadership of the party to always be mindful in sustaining the integrity of the party, appreciating delegates for their behaviours and maturity displayed during the congress.

This was as the party adopted the current state executive under the leadership Philip Tattari Shekwo to continue steering the affairs of the party for the next four years.

The adoption came following an official motion moved by the Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Abdullahi Adamu and seconded by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, with all the 1775 delegates affirming that position through a voice vote.

 

Kano gov charges delegate to elect credible candidates

KANO State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Saturday, called on the 3,432 delegates that participated in the state congress to elect credible candidates that would represent their interest without fear or favour.

A total of 53 positions were contested for, with 32 for the state while 21 positions were for the zone.

The exercise, which was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano had a heavy security presence.

However, supporters of the former governor of the state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, failed to participate in the exercise, which was hailed by the Kano State commissioner for information, Comrade Muhammad Garba, who said the party was happy for the large turnout of party members for the state congress.

 

Yobe affirms state exco

The Yobe State APC state congress was concluded with a voice vote returning the state executive members for another term.

The exercise, which took place amid tight security on Maiduguri Road, had all executive members retained to continue in office.

Presenting the executive members, the chairman of the congress committee, Umar Kareto, stated that since Yobe was basically an APC state, the caucus sat down in conjunction with the entire congress and decided as a family to adopt their party executive through affirmation.

Parallel congress in Ondo, as hoodlums dislodge factional group

No fewer than 50 people were injured in Akure, the Ondo State capital during the APC organised by a faction of the party at the BTO Hall along Road Block area of Akure.

The lawmaker representing Ifedore/Idanre Federal Constituency, Hon. Bamidele Baderinwa; Osun State Commissioner for Regional Integration, Hon. Bola Ilori; the Director-General of Olusegun Abraham Campaign Group, Kunle Eko Davies, and a chieftain of the party, Tolu Babaleye, fled for their lives, as suspected thugs invaded the venue of the parallel congress.

Bolarinwa was beaten to a pulp with his clothes torn while security operatives at the venue looked the other way as the hoodlums operated unhindered.

Some of the delegates who had seated at the hall after accreditation, waiting to cast their votes were beaten out of the hall and chased away.

Some members of the factional group accused members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) of being sponsored to disrupt the congress.

Meanwhile, the APC faction loyal to the state government held its congress at the International Events and Culture Centre (The Dome), where 1,015 delegates voted and elected Hon. Ade Adetimehin as the new chairman of the party.

The congress was witnessed by a five-man committee headed by Mr. Matthew Omegara, who lauded the party for its peaceful conduct and maturity.

The governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) urged the party members to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and accept the outcome of the congress, saying “whatever that happens here or whatever has happened in your ward, let us take it with equanimity. God has plans for us. Why are we worried? Whatever will be will be. Your own time, if it is not today, it will come.”

 

Ogboru/Omo-Agege faction defies postponement order, holds parallel congress

THE crisis rocking the Delta State chapter of the APC deepened on Saturday in Asaba as the Great Ogboru/Ovie Omo-Agege faction has purportedly held a parallel state congress, though the exercise had earlier been shifted to Monday, May 21, 2018.

It will be recalled that the APC National Working Committee had rescheduled the State Congress to Monday, following an allegation that the state congress committee could be compromised.

The national secretariat of the APC, in a letter on Friday May 18, had informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its decision to shift the state congress to Monday, May 21, however, with no reason advanced.

In a letter, with reference number APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/018/12, duly signed by its National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni and addressed to the chairman of the INEC, the APC said it found it necessary to reschedule the exercise, which was earlier scheduled for Saturday, May 19, across the country.

The APC, as gathered, had postponed and rescheduled the state congress in the state over alleged surreptitious plans to compromise the congress committee.

The implication of the action of the Ogboru/Omon-Agege-led faction could suggest that only the Emerhor-led faction would be observing the State Congress rescheduled for Monday, May 21 even as it is not yet clear if the result of the Saturday’s parallel congress would scale through.

This is happening in spite of the Unity List said to have been endorsed by NWC to guide the conduct of the congress to harmonize the two warring factions and end the horse-trading and shenanigans that characterised the Ward and local government Congresses.

 

Bauchi APC holds peaceful state congress without Dogara faction

Though the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara-led faction of the APC boycotted the state congress of the party in Bauchi, the congress held under tight security with all the former executive members of the party returned unopposed.

While addressing the party members at the end of the of the congress held inside the Multi-purpose Indoor Sports Hall, the state governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, declared that the leadership of the party was ever ready to take back all members that have reneged from the activities of the party.

While speaking to our correspondent on phone, a member of the Dogara-led faction, Muhammad Bala Jibrin said that they decided to boycott the congress, because the matter was already in court.

 

Ambode attends state congress, as Balogun emerges chairman

Chairman of the Lagos State APC Congress Organizing Committee, Senator Uche Ekwunife, on Saturday linked the massive infrastructural renewal across the state to political stability being enjoyed in the state, saying it was time for such to be replicated nationwide to facilitate growth and development.

However, another faction of the party led by Fuad Oki held a separate at Airport Hotel Ikeja, with Oki emerging as its state chairman.

Speaking at the well-attended congress of the party held at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, Ekwunife particularly commended the seamless political transition and the peaceful conduct of members of the party throughout the congress, saying such political maturity was rare in the country.

She commended the outgoing state chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, for his commitment, zeal and trust in the party, saying that it was obvious that the progress of the party was paramount in the state.

The congress, which was attended by the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; the deputy governor, Dr Idiat Adebule; Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, among others, produced Alhaji Tunde Balogun as the new state chairman of the party.

In his acceptance speech, Balogun commended the APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ambode for the political stability and development of the State.

Among party chieftains that graced the congress are Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa; Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Gbenga Ashafa, Solomon Adeola, Ganiyu Solomon, Musiliu Obanikoro; former Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; APC South West Women Leader, Chief Kemi Nelson; Chief Lanre Razak; Senior Special Assistant to the President Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

 

Two chairmen emerge in Kogi APC state congresses

The two factions of the APC in Kogi State organised parallel state congresses with two chairmen emerging from the exercises.

The faction backed by the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, had its congress at the Lokoja Confluence Stadium with Abdulahi Bello, emerging as the new chairman of the party.

This is just as the Audu/Faleke group had its state congress at the Felele Primary School and returned the state chairman, Haddy Ametuo, as the unopposed chairman.

At the congress attended by the governor, all the positions were filled through affirmation as there was no election since the leadership had agreed on consensus arrangement.

The congress, conducted by the committee on the state congress led by Alhaji Mamman Ali, was however peaceful and witnessed accreditation of delegates before the affirmation of the nominees.

In the same vein, the congress by the Ametuo group was also through affirmation as it was said that the party leadership had agreed to consensus.

 

Retired Air Commodore emerges APC chairman in Kaduna

Retired Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada from Zango Kataf Local Government of Kaduna State has emerged as the newly-elected chairman of the APC in the state.

The newly-elected chairman and 35 others were elected on Saturday at the congress held at the Trade Fair complex on Kaduna/Zaria road under a peaceful atmosphere.

31 APC state exco returned in Gombe

In Gombe State, only five out of the 36 members of the incumbent state executives of the APC were unable to return to their positions at the state congress held at the Gombe International Hotel.

As announced by the congress committee, the positions that had new entrants were the Assistant Organizing Secretary, Zonal Vice Chairman (North), Zonal Youth Leader (South), State PRO and the State Women Leader.

The election, which was conducted through affirmation of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ by the chairman of the state congress committee, Zubairu Abubakar, saw the return of 31 members of the old executives led by Mr. Nitte K. Amangal as state chairman.

It was, however, noticed that some chieftains of the party in the state such as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan Zarma and the Senator representing Gombe North, Bayero Usman Nafada, were conspicuously absent at the congress.

 

Foreign Minister, Nnamani, Okechukwu escape death as thugs disrupt Enugu state congress

The Enugu State congress of the APC ended abruptly on Saturday as thugs stormed the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium venue of the exercise and chased party stakeholders and delegates away with dangerous weapons.

Prominent members of the party, including the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, former governor of the state, Sullivan Chime, national vice chairman of the party, Mr. Emma Eneukwu, the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu and other members ran for dear lives as the violence erupted.

The violence, which erupted at the venue in the middle of the election, was followed by sporadic gunshots by security operatives.

Sunday Tribune observed that the two factions in the party led by the minister and the founding chairman of the party, Dr Nwonye, respectively had stormed the venue as early as 8 a.m. and poised for a showdown.

Unlike the local government and ward congresses, which the groups held at different venues, it was a different thing this time as they both stormed the stadium early morning with their supporters.

The camp loyal to Onyeama, however, returned to the venue to hold their parallel congress after the violence was contained.

 

Dalung supporters shun congress in Plateau

Contrary to the speculation that the APC state congress in Plateau State will be chaotic, the Hon. Latep Dabang-led state executive emerged unopposed and was returned through affirmation without any rancour, with the only other chairmanship aspirant, Hon. Johnson Pondar, disqualified.

This was as the Minister of Sport and Youth Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung, who has been at loggerheads with the leadership of the party in the state and Governor Simon Lalong stayed away from the congress.

The minister has not taken part in the congresses right from the ward congress to the state level.

Shortly before the affirmation, the state congress committee chairman, Senator Christ Adigiji, announced the disqualification of Hon. Pondar, hinging the disqualification on the premise that his name was not found in the party register in his ward.

Irked by the development, Pondar and few of his supporters walked out of the venue and condemned his disqualification, adding that his disqualification was illegal, having purchased the chairmanship form with the sum of N100, 000 and vowed to forward a petition to the appeal committee.

 

Serving Commissioner emerges APC chairman in Zamfara

The Zamfara State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Lawali Liman, on Saturday, emerged the new chairman of the APC at the party’s state congress.

The chairman of the party’s state congress, Alhaji Umar Dambo, said Liman emerged as a consensus candidate following agreement reached by party elders and stakeholders, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

Until his recent position, Liman had served as the chairman of Kaura-Namoda Local Government Council, before he was reassigned by Gov. Abdulaziz Yari as a commissioner in the state’s executive council.

 

Kwara APC returns state exco to office

The APC in Kwara State, on Saturday, returned 35 members of its state executive committee unopposed, with the incumbent chairman, Alhaji Ishola Balogun Fulani emerging as state chairman.

The exercise which took place inside the state Banquet Hall, Ilorin, was witnessed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, all members of the National Assembly from the state, Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, as well as Deputy Governor and Speaker of the state Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad.

Also in attendance were National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and Alhaji Kawu Baraje and representatives of the INEC from Abuja and Kwara.

The new executive committee members had been picked through a consensus arrangement which was started during the ward Congress of the party.

Chairman congress committee of the party, Senator Saliu Hussein who supervised the exercise expressed delight over the arrangement, saying it had made his members’ job easy although he still ordered voting to continue.

Meanwhile, another set of party members organised a parallel state congress the Arca Centre, Ilorin, with a former governorship aspirant, Bashir Bolarinwa (BOB) emerging as its state chairman.

The exercise, which was attended by a representative of the information minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a former aide of the Senate President and 2019 governorship aspirant, Alhaji Moshood Mustapha, former information commissioners, Alhaji Saheed Popoola and Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, among other dignitaries, was done through affirmation as its 35-member state executive was elected unopposed.

Speaking at the state congress held at state banquet hall, Saraki commended party members saying Nigerian politicians have a lot to learn from the Kwara model of politicking.

“This is the third stage of the journey that started with ward congress, which was adjudged as the best in Nigeria. In Kwara we don’t have problems of people fighting themselves and that is while you can see two former governors sitting together to participate in an electoral process with the incumbent.”

Factions hold parallel congresses in Bayelsa

In Bayelsa State, factions of the APC held parallel congresses at different locations.

The faction loyal to the former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, holding its congress at the party secretariat along Mbiama/Yenagoa road, while the other group led by the former acting governor and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Nestor Binabo, held its congress at the Azikoro Community Primary School, Azikoro Village.

Comrade Jonathan Amos emerged as the chairman of the Sylva faction, while Deacon Joseph Fafi was returned as the chairman of Binabo’s faction.

Fafi is the former acting chairman of the party.

 

Ogun APC holds peaceful congress, elects new state exco

The APC state congress in Ogun State was held in a peaceful affair on Saturday, with Chief Derin Adebiyi, an aide of the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, elected as the new chairman of the party while Alhaji Bashiru Fadayiro and Patrick Ogunde emerged as the deputy state chairman and secretary respectively.

An ex-aide of a former governor of the state, Wole Elegbede, was elected as the state publicity secretary.

The chairman of the congress committee, Revd. Peter Obadan, while announcing the results, said that a total of 1,749 delegates drawn from the 20 local government areas of the state participated in the exercise.

 

Abia  holds parallel congress

The congress of  Abia State chapter of APC has ended with the emergence of two parallel state executive committees amidst tight security.

At the end of the congress which held at different venues, Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe and Hon Donatus Nwankpa emerged chairmen for their various factions.

While Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe faction held its Congress at the Eziama Community Hall, the faction of Donatus Nwankpa held their Congress at the Umuahia Township Stadium in door hall. Sunday Tribune who monitored the venues reports that both factions.