The state congresses of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across the country, yesterday, was marred by factionalisation in a number of cases and violence in others.
In Osun, the factions of the former governor and now Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and that of his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, held parallel congresses. It would be recalled that this also happened during the ward and local government congresses in the state.
The mainstream APC in Kwara State elected a new executive council to be led by Abiodun Fagbemi after so much delay of what insiders say was political horse trading.
Former chairman, Abdullahi Samari, who was in office on caretaker basis, as learnt, had to be persuaded to play second fiddle as deputy chairman to effect political balancing ahead of party primaries.
Samari is from Kwara North, while Fagbemi is from Kwara South.
But, ahead 2023 general election, the new state party structure forecloses any candidate from the North for the governorship under the APC.
But, leaving Samari as deputy chairman under Fagbemi was meant to checkmate People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) move to zone the governorship ticket to the North.
In an earlier congress of the opposition party, PDP, a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Babatunde Mohammed, emerged as chairman on consensus basis.
This may confirm the said plans by PDP to source its governorship candidate from Kwara North.
The mainstream APC, however, has Isowo Mustapha as the party secretary. But, what may further compound APC’s woes is its factionalisation.
The renegade group led by Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, also produced its chairman and excos.
The party faction operating under the aegis of ‘Loyal APC’ in Kwara State at the weekend, re-elected Hon. Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa as its factional chairman in the state.
Bolarinwa alongside other new members of the executive emerged through an affirmative process in a congress held at the party’s secretariat, located along Reservation Road, GRA, Ilorin.
Announcing the new executive, Dr Bolaji Afolabi, who served as returning officer, said the new executive emerged by the wish of the majority members of the party.
Chief Theophilous Adeboye Sunday, Issa Isiaka Agboji emerged as vice chairman and Secretary respectively; Abolaji Olaide Rahmat, Women Leader; Joseph Ndanusa Tsado, Senatorial Chairman North; AbdulRaheem Yusuf Akorede, Central and Barr. Rasak Alabi, South; while Comrade Sunkanmi Afolayan emerged Youth Leader among other executive members.
Addressing journalists after the inauguration, vice chairman, Chief Theophilous Adeboye Sunday, said: “As you can see, over 1,000 delegates affirmed the new executive and we are ready to move the party forward through activities that will attract more people to the party.”
Similarly, the APC congress witnessed impressive turnout of members in Niger State, but with two parallel executives expected at the end of the exercise which took place in Minna.
Also, as the battle for the soul of the APC in Niger rages, the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mumammad Ahmed Ketso, and the House of Representatives member representing Bosso/Chanchaga Federal Constituency, Hon. Umar Bago, were conspicuously absent from the two factions.
The emergence of two factions came against the backdrop of the denial of some aspirants to the ruling party by the Congress Screening Committee in Niger State hence the over 30 aspirants who had bought their forms from the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja coming together to organise their congress and produce leaders of their choice.
While the state faction with the full backing of Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello had their congress at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, opposite Government House, the other faction concluded theirs at a private building along Bay Clinic road, both within the Minna metropolis.
The Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) factions held a parallel congress across the state, organised by a group led by immediate Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, under the aegis of Akinwunmi Ambode Campaign Organisation (AMCO), where Beatrice Omotayo Tugbobo emerged the state chairman.
While speaking with newsmen, Tugbobo, admitted that there were factions in Lagos APC, pointing out that the exercise took place in line with the party’s constitution, which, according to her, stipulated that the congress could be held by consensus arrangement or election.
In Oyo State, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State believed to be an aggrieved faction, on Saturday held what could be described as the state parallel congress.
The aggrieved members with over 2,000 delegates were led in what started on a peaceful congress at the Grace Hall of Jogor Event Centre, Oke-Ado Area of Ibadan by some of their leaders such as Hon. Muriana Ajibola, representing Ibarapa North/Central Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives; Hon. Ademola Mulikat, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan, Engr. Femi Babalola (Jogor), Barrister Azeem Gbolarunmi, Hon. Yemi Aderibigbe, Hon Ademola, Engr. Popoola, Omotoso, Chief Nureni Akanni, Alhaji Gani Dosu, Princess Aderonke Adedoja, among others.
Other state factional officers that elected at Jogor Centre included, Hon. Mathew Abioye (Deputy Chairman), Mr. Abiodun Oyesola (State Secretary), Pa Olawuwo (Vice Chairman Oyo South), Akeem Ariola(Financial Secretary), Mogaji Bola Akinyemi (Publicity Secretary) and Asiwaju Adekola Adeoye, re-elected as the Youth Leader of the party.
Just few minutes to the end of the whole exercise, some hoodlums in a commando like fashion, stormed the venue, left over 50 vehicles damaged.
The hoodlums invaded the venue with some dangerous weapons and were repelled by the combined team of the Police and Operatives of the Department of the State Securit (DSS).
Similarly, Ifieanyi Ugwuanyi, the governor of Enugu State, led Governor Seyi Makinde, his wife, Engr. Tamunominini Makinde; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, State Executive of the Party, PDP South West Chairman, Hon. Taofeek Arapaja, Hon. Stanley Adedeji, Hon. Abass Agboworin, Hon. Sikiru Sanda, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, Chief Saka Balogun, Senator Kola Balogun and others in a peaceful congress at Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamsingba.
The APC in Ondo State returned the incumbent state chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, and a few number of the former members of the state executive.
There were fresh members installed through consensus among the stakeholders.
The congress, which held at The DOME, Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, had all delegates from all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state in attendance.
On his part, the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the peaceful conduct of the State Congress of the APC, describing the event as the fairest, simplest and non-controversial.
Cornelius Ojelabi emerged the consensus chairman of the APC in Lagos State.
The congress, which took place at Mobolaji Johnson Arena Stadium, also saw 35 other executive members elected through voice votes.
The election was conducted by the Chairman of Lagos APC Congress Committee, Bayo Adelabu (Pekelemes) from the national body.
The APC in Ogun State, Saturday, held parallel congress to elect executives into the State Executive Committee.
While a group loyal to the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, held its congress at the MKO International Stadium, Kuto; the other group loyal to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun held its own at Ake Palace, in the state capital.
Abiodun’s group returned Chief Yemi Sanusi as the factional chairman of the party, while the Amosun’s group also returned Derin Adebiyi as the factional chairman.
At the two venues, consensus lists were adopted, but Amosun’s group adopted the consensus list through balloting, while the Abiodun’s group only announced the names of the committee without balloting.
Aspirants for the positions of Katsina APC chairmanship and office of the organising secretary, Alhaji Gide Yaro Sabuwar Kasa and Alhaji Yahaya Nuhu Mahuta withdrew from contesting and adopted the party’s stand.
Speaking separately at a press conference, the duo said they withdrew from the contest to ensure the unity of the party in the state.
The State Congress of the APC to elect a new state executive committee of the party in Bayelsa State was conducted amidst tight security.
Adejo, at the end of voting, announced a loyalist of Sylva, Dennis Otiotio-Odoni, who polled 582 votes, as the elected state chairman of APC in Bayelsa.
A former member of the state House of Assembly, Ebipadei Fekoweimo, another Sylva’s loyalist, emerged the state secretary, while the immediate-past publicity secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, also a loyalist of the minister, retained his position.
Also, Mazi Enyinnaya Habour emerged chairman-elect of the Abia State chapter APC, vowing to rebuild the party in the state and rescue Abians from “decades of decay and backwardness occasioned by the inept leadership foisted upon the state by PDP”.
He equally declared his aversion for antiparty activities by party members as he vowed not to tolerate fake APC members who change colours at night for selfish gains.
Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of APC shut the door against many journalists who converged at the University of Benin Sport Complex to cover the state congress election, declaring that only those of them with official invitation were needed at the venue.
The journalists were turned back at the entrance to the venue by the security guards who told journalists without a letter of invitation to stay clear from the gate to avoid being molested.
Even when the journalists showed their Identity cards, officials of the DSS manning the gate, stopped the journalists, saying they were acting on instruction.
