This was as the exercise was marred by boycott and postponement in some states.
In Lagos and Delta states respectively, an outbreak of violence led to the loss of two lives while two party members sustained different degrees of injuries in Oyo State, with a serving minister, federal lawmakers and many others said to have escaped being lynched.
1 feared dead, LG boss, several others injured in Lagos
The ward congress to elect executives turned bloody at Ajeromi-Ifelodun area of the state as one person was feared dead while several others were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
Though Sunday Tribune could not ascertain the cause of the conflict, it was gathered that some hoodlums were said to have disrupted the conduct of the exercise.
The council chairman was also said to have been attacked and injured in the process.
Also in Ojokoro area of the state, power tussle among contenders trying to position their preferred candidates for the House of Assembly seat in the 2019 general election was said to have led to the disruption of the ward congress.
Reports from some of the wards monitored by our correspondents showed that the exercises, which started very late in some wards in the state, went on smoothly without any hitch.
As at 3 p.m., the Electoral Panel in charge of the exercise in Epe was yet to report at various venues in the town, even as the APC chapter in Ward E of Ifako Ijaye area of the state had by 2 p.m. rounded off, electing its 25-member executive committee.
In Ward G of Agbado Oke-Odo, the APC electoral panel was still being expected as of 2:30pm, but not withstanding, party faithful were in jubilation mood and dancing to some music, while awaiting the arrival of the panel members.
Shehu Sani, others boycott congress in Kaduna
The APC ward congress in Kaduna State was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere in all the 255 wards across the 23 local government areas of the state even though it was delayed till afternoon.
However, as of the time of filing this report, it could not be confirmed whether the APC Akida or Restoration Group, pressure groups within the state chapter of the APC headed by both Senators Shehu Sani and Suleiman Hunkuyi held their separate congresses.
It will be recalled that the state acting secretary of the party, Yahaya Pate had, two days ago, warned the lawmakers and their supporters to stay away from the congress.
A party stalwart who pleaded for anonymity said yesterday’s congress was held without the participation of the lawmakers, who were said to be out of town, noting however, “I think we will be seeing something unusual coming from them very soon.”
Nonetheless, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who attended the ward congress at the Unguwar Sarki in Kaduna North Local Government in company of top government officials, called on party faithful to elect committed party officials who will take the party to the next level.
Amosun commends peaceful congress in Ogun
The APC ward congress was generally peaceful in all the 236 wards in Ogun State, on Saturday, Sunday Tribune can report.
This development, it was gathered, was due to the internal arrangement by the party members, which saw all executive members at the ward levels returned.
The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, it was learnt, had directed that ward executives be returned their offices.
Amosun commended APC faithful in the state for the peaceful conduct of the ward congress.
The governor, at the Ajura ward 4 in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state, where he registered as a delegate, thanked the members for conducting themselves in a very peaceful manner.
He enjoined members not to give room for any act of violence throughout the period of the congresses, stating that he was happy for the unity and harmony that now exist among them.
This was as he called on members of the party to come out enmasse and participate in the local and state congresses.
Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who also attested to the peaceful and orderly conduct of the congress, said it was a sign that the party is one peaceful and big family.
She added that as a financial member of the APC, she and some of her colleagues came from Abuja to identify with party members in their respective wards and take part in grassroots democracy.
Parallel congresses in Kogi as factions claim victory
The crisis rocking the Kogi State chapter of the APC continued on Saturday as parallel ward congresses were held across the 239 wards of the state.
Although the exercise was peaceful in the state as both factions settled for consensus arrangements in many of the wards, the two groups claimed victory in the exercise.
A faction of the party in the state is loyal to the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, while the second faction led by the state chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, is loyal to the Audu/Faleke political group.
When Sunday Tribune correspondent went round some of the wards in Lokoja, Ajaokuta and Adavi local governments, it was discovered that people were still waiting for materials for the congress as at 1pm.
The materials were discovered not to have been brought to the designated centres for the congress because of the consensus arrangements put in place.
However, Ametuo, after the exercise, declared that majority of the candidates from the Audu/Faleke group won in the contest.
He said he was glad to announce that APC members came out in their thousands to elect the ward executives across the State with members of the Audu/Faleke group running away with victory.
But the acting chairman of the party, Ahovi Ibrahim, debunked the claims by Ametuo, saying the faction was never on the field for the congress.
Oyo APC congress turns bloody, now to hold today, as gov sues for unity
The APC in Oyo State could not hold its ward congress as scheduled, following an outbreak of violence at its state secretariat at Oke-Ado, Ibadan, as gun-toting thugs invaded the secretariat, disrupting a pre-congress stakeholders’ meeting slated for the venue.
The crisis, which became bloody, leaving some leaders of the party injured, led to the chairman of the Congress Committee, Alhaji Musa Halilu-Ahmed, shifting the congress to today, after consultation with stakeholders of the party who reconvened at the secretariat after the violent disruption.
He said distribution of forms to eligible and intended aspirants who have bank evidence that they had paid into bank account before Saturday would be attended to after a consultation with all the stakeholders.
Chieftains of the party, who belong to a grouping named the Oyo State APC Unity Forum, had to scamper to safety in the middle of the commotion that attended the invasion.
The situation, Sunday Tribune learnt, was put under control by security personnel attached to some political officers who rescued their principals from the venue, reportedly leaving the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Abdulwasi Musah and Yemi Akinlabi injured.
These leaders include the Minister of Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu; the Senator representing Oyo Central, Hadjia Monsurat Sunmonu; chairman of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Professor Adeolu Akande; House of Representatives members, Honourables Dapo Lam-Adesina, Segun Ogunwuyi, Sunday Adepoju, Taiwo Akintola; Honourable Gbenga Ojoawo, Olasupo Abiodun, former caretaker chairman, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, and others.
A few members of the group sustained injuries, while some left with deep machete cuts, just as the congress committee chairman also disclosed that two of the seven-member panel sustained various degrees of injuries and one other had to be resuscitated.
In the build-up to the congress, the party had been polarised between loyalists of the governor called the SENACO group and those loyal to the ideals of the late leader of the party and former governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina.
Speaking on the development, Governor Ajimobi, who stressed that peace had been a cardinal achievement of his administration, called for unity in the party, adding that democracy is all about competition.
“This party, APC, brought all of us in. I plead with all of you. APC is synonymous with peace and civility and accommodation. In politics, there will always be disagreement, misunderstanding. But let us show that we believe in God, not by going to mosque or church, but by our actions.
“So, I am pleading all of us. Let’s us have peace. You may be a governor, Minister, Representative, House of Assembly member, or even executive member of the party. The most important thing is that you can’t be there forever.”
However, addressing newsmen at the state police headquarters in Eleyele where they took cover after the attack, Shittu said the onslaught was targeted at members of the group who opposed “impunity and undemocratic means of getting party officials” into offices.
“Even though he calls himself a progressive governor unfortunately, Ajimobi does not believe in the process laid out in our constitution about how party executives are to emerge. We still don’t know why anybody in the progressive family will be afraid of elective congresses.
“Our appeal to the national executive of the party is that all those who have already obtained forms and who do not have opponents in their various wards and local governments must be considered and deemed to have been elected unopposed.
Also speaking, Senator Sunmonu, who condemned the attack and those behind it, called on the national leadership of the party to closely monitor the development in the state chapter and act accordingly.
Honourable Lam-Adesina, who spoke in unison with others, raised the alarm that the thugs mentioned his name and those of other members and equally threatened to eliminate them.
He called for a full scale investigation into incident and that those found culpable should be made to face the full weight of the law.
The state chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, condemned the incident as unfortunate, said he would not blame either of the warring groups.
“Right from the headquarters of our party, the arrangement was very faulty. It is not the fault of the committee members. They came in yesterday and no guidelines until when you arrived. Can we really conduct the congresses at this point in time?” he asked.
1 killed in Delta, as mixed feelings trail exercise
The APC ward congress in Delta State has claimed the life of one Jeremiah Oghoveta, Sunday Tribune has learnt.
Oghoveta, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed, died at the Okwagbe Community, Jeremi Ward 3, Federal Ward 10 in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The deceased was allegedly stabbed by an assailant, now on the run, who accused him of hijacking electoral materials, which eyewitnesses affirmed, had not even arrived.
The deceased was a ward chairmanship aspirant said to be loyal to the Chief Great Ogboru/Senator Omo-Agege faction, with the alleged murderer is said to belong to a faction said to be opposed to the faction.
Meanwhile, some members of APC in Uvwie Local Government Area have alleged conspiracy in the appointment of party leaders in the council.
Mr Raymond Akpofure told journalists that the party leadership in Uvwie had imposed candidates on them.
He said that could be very bad for a party that was aiming to claim leadership from the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta in 2019.
Congress hitch-free in Enugu, as party faithful boo minister
The ward congress in Enugu was adjudged hitch-free by chieftains of the party across the state, though there was a mild drama at the Eke country home of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Godfrey Onyeama, as party faithful booed him for allegedly attempting to impose a candidate on them during the ward congress.
The election of officers was almost being concluded when the supporters of the minister took the microphone and announced for a fresh poll, prompting the large followers of the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, to shout “no, no, no,” while booing the minister who had just entered the venue.
But for the intervention of the VON boss, Okechukwu, the situation would have escalated to violence, as tension was rising high before he ordered his supporters to leave the polling centre after the election was concluded.
APC returns ward executives unopposed in Niger
The Niger State chapter of the APC, on Saturday, returned all the executives of the party in the 274 wards of the state unopposed.
The party also elected five delegates for each of the wards to elect the local government executives and national delegates next Saturday.
This was as the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello called on all APC stakeholders in the state to work for peace, progress, stability and unity of the party.
The governor stated this at the Government House, Minna when he received members of the APC ward and local government congress.
Election materials arrive late at Kano wards
Materials for the ward congress in Kano State arrived late on Saturday, as many members of the party who had gone to their respective wards to cast their vote could not do so early, Sunday Tribune has gathered.
This was a former governor of the state and senator representing Kano…, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, boycotted ward congress exercise in his Kwakwanso home town.
When Sunday Tribune visited some wards at the Kano Municipal, many party members were seen sitting down, expecting officials to organise the ward congress.
At a ward in Nasarrawa Local Government Area, a party member said he had been waiting since 10 a.m. waiting for officials to organise the congress.
Equally at a ward in Ungogo Local Government, Hajia Bintu Warzo, she had been waiting since 9 a.m. to cast her vote, but officials and the materials for the election had not arrived.
The state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, left the state capital around 12 p.m. for his home town of Ganduje, where he was given a rousing welcome.
He urged all party supporters to feel free to elect those that would represent them well.
Exercise peaceful in Kwara
The APC ward congress was conducted under a peaceful and orderly atmosphere across the 193 wards in Kwara State.
Monitored reports of the exercise in various parts of the state revealed that there was no violence in any of the centres where the exercise took place.
Speaking with journalists after reviewing the congress, Senator Pbilit Ohiare, who led the APC national team that monitored the exercise in the state expressed satisfaction with the conduct of participants.
“I am the chairman of the Congress Committee for Ward and Local Governments in Kwara State. I am to, with other members, monitor and take stock of the results of the congresses for the ward and perhaps for the LG congress. The congress has been fantastic. I think in Kwara State, particularly in Ilorin here, we have seen an exceptional peace; there is peace, there is harmony and the congresses are being conducted peacefully. Even if there are some grievances, it is very minimal. It cannot be an absolute thing. Everything, as far as we are concerned, so far, is in order. Kwara is a very peaceful state; it is one big family and I’m proud of what we have seen today,” he said at the Balogun Alanamu ward.
Also speaking, the state chairman of the party, Hon. Ishola Balogun-Fulani, said that reports from across the state indicated that party members came out enmasse early in the day to pick their leaders in a free and fair manner.
According to Balogun-Fulani there was no issue of imposition as members were asked to line up behind their preferred candidates in the open to choose.
“The exercise has been peaceful and as at now several wards have concluded their own. We are receiving reports from across the state and there has not been any negative feedback.”
Asked about reports by some party members alleging that they were sidelined in the process, the APC chairman denied the claims, pointing out that the party had deliberately extended the deadline for purchasing the forms till midnight of Friday when its attention was drawn to their plight.
Anambra APC ward congress, huge success towards 2019—Ngige
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, on Saturday, described the APC ward congress election that took place in all parts of Anambra State as a huge success for the 2019 general election and a positive signal for the party ahead of its national convention.
The minister said this in his country home Alor, Idemili South Local Government, where he monitored the ward congress elections.
He used the exercises to commend APC members in all the wards of the state for the peaceful manner the exercise was conducted, informing the congress committee and the INEC officials that he personally went out to monitor the event and that that there was no case of breakdown of law and order during the process.
Ngige, who called on the people to obtain their PVC at the designated centre in order to be able to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari, maintained that Anambra and the entire Igbo extraction “has become a home to APC and APC remains the only viable option for the Igbos, considering the success recorded by the party in just three and half years.”
Gombe police command deploy men
The Gombe State police command said it had deployed enough police men to ensure hitch-free APC ward congress in the state.
Mary Malum, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe, on Saturday, that the measure would check any attempt at breaching the peace during the exercise.
She advised party officials and members to play the game according to the rules and refrain from taking the law into their hands.
“All measures have been put in place and currently, our men had been deployed to ensure a hitch free exercise.
“I am advising members of the public to be law-abiding and good citizens; the politicians should also play the game according to the rules so that there will be a hitch free exercise,” she said.
She further called on the delegates to understand that the exercise was not a ‘do or die’ affair.
Malum called on people in the state to always give useful information that would help in ensuring security of lives and property
Police, army block commuters in Zamfara
Hundreds of travellers were, on Saturday, denied passage through Zamfara by armed security personnel following the conduct of the APC ward congress in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that fierce looking police, soldiers and civil defence personnel had blocked all exits out of Gusau, the state capital, leaving motorists travelling out of the state stranded.
Some of the motorists, especially commercial vehicles leaving the state capital as early as 7 a.m. could not go beyond the outskirts of the town as they were stopped by the security personnel.
Many of the vehicle owners and passengers were seen wearing long faces unsure of what to do.
Some of them who spoke to NAN lamented that no announcement was made to the effect, and that the development had affected their business schedules.
Sale Moriki, a commercial driver going to Kano from Gusau, expressed disappointment over the development.
“If the government is serious, it would have reached out to our union leaders who would have prepared us before we came out, so, that drivers and passengers would plan ahead,”he said.
When NAN contacted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Mohammed Shehu, he said the restriction of movement was to ensure smooth conduct of the exercise.
Benue holds peaceful congress
In Benue, the ward congress was devoid of rancour as all former ward leaders were affirmed to continue in office.
Impeccable source told our correspondent that the national leader of the party in the state, Senator George Akume had, at the caucus meeting held in Makurdi last Sunday, informed the party leaders that he was not going to allow change of leadership at ward to state levels of the party.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who indirectly confirmed this to newsmen the following day while answering questions from journalists, said that the party in the state was not ready to effect any change of leadership from ward to state level except where there were vacant positions to fill.
Sources across the state informed that the ward congress held yesterday was merely affirmative.
For instance, in Agatu Local Government Area of the state, the council chairman, Mrs Echoda Comfort, while addressing the party members was quoted to have said, “there was no need going against the directives of leaders of the party from above, hence the decision to call for this meeting.”
Sunday Tribune correspondent gathered that an affirmative congress was held throughout the state.
Controversy trails exercise in Bauchi
Controversy trailed the conduct of the ward congress in Bauchi State as a faction of the party believed to be loyal to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the senator representing Bauchi North, Nazif Suleiman Gamawa and other members of the National Assembly from the state protested being sidelined.
Senator Gamawa had expressed anger over the delay in providing materials for the exercise, alleging that there was a ploy by the state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, to deny candidates not loyal to him from contesting in the ward congress.
He said: “Everybody is geared towards the elections. We are fully ready. We paid about N13 million for tellers for the purchase of the forms but to our greatest surprise, we haven’t got the forms as at the time I am speaking to you and it is surprising that we look for the committee that is charged with conducting the election and they are yet to be found.”
He frowned at the outcome of a meeting they had was with the governor at the Government House, which he said was supposed to be held at the party office, saying “to our greatest surprise, there was no meeting at the party secretariat.
“We were shocked that the chairman of the ward/local government congress committee was praising the governor instead of telling us how the election was going to hold. He left his responsibility to say that the election would be controlled. I have been in politics for 26 years and I have not heard of the word controlled election before.”
Senator Gamawa, who alleged that the Ward and Local Government Congress Committee led by Dr Tony Macfoy committee came with two forms –one for the coordinators of the governor and the other to “whom they wanted to give to. We thought it was going to be an all-inclusive election and the people of Bauchi are waiting but unfortunately only one group has forms that belong to the Government House.”
The concerned Senator said that the group had to call the national chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who assured that, “if forms are not given to those who purchased them, then the elections stands nullified.”
While reacting to the allegations of taking sides the group loyal to the state governor, however, Macfoy stated that the allegation was untrue, saying that there were no factions in the APC.
He said: “Don’t bring up that word group. There is no division in the APC. We are one family. There are family intrigues and politics but does that mean there is a faction?”
While assuring that the committee would be fair in the conduct of the ward congresses, Macfoy said that the party would abide by the guidelines in the conduct of the ward congress election in the state.
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