Congresses: We were fair to all —Ogun APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State chapter has said that the last ward congresses of the party was conducted in compliance with its constitution.

The party in a statement by its publicity secretary, Sola Lawal, made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abeokuta, on Thursday, said all bonafide members of the party who were at the venue of the congresses participated and voted in the election.

Nigerian Tribune recalled that a group led by the Ogun Central Senatorial chairman, Hon. Kunle Adesina, alleged that the party member who were not loyal to the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, were not allowed to participate in the exercise.

The party denied factionalisation within the ranks of the party saying such ended with the 2015 general elections.

It also maintained that any of its members across the state who claimed not to be aware of the congress could not and should not lay claim to the  membership of the party.

The party explained that the mobilisation for the congresses was done through the media nationally and that same process was embarked on by the state chapter   some days before the congress.

It said, “a five-man Congress Committee headed by Alhaji Bashir Machina was sent to Ogun State by the national organ of the party, as was the case in all the 36 States in the country to conduct the congress. The group did its job and turned in its report to the national secretariat.

“Subsequently Congress Appeal Panel also came, spent four days without a single petition filed with it. If any one now suddenly woke up to cry marginalization it would be  a mere after thought.

“Nigerians will recall that some months to the 2015  election, a group of some supposedly loyal and founding members of the party factionalized the party and publicly renounced membership of the party to join the Social Democratic Party and worked vigorously against our party APC in all elections, House of Assembly, House of Reps, Senate, Governorship and the Presidential.

“We hope the same set of people and their co travelers are not desperate to recreate what they did in 2015 – as we move towards 2019.

 “As democrats, the doors of our party in Ogun State  remain wide open to all as long as they operate within the ambit of the party’s constitution, rules and regulation.”