There were parallel congresses at the local government congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo and Kogi states on Saturday, as different factions within the party presented lists of winners, while members loyal to Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara protested in Bauchi state.
The parallel congresses were sequel to the results of the ward Congress held in the country last week Saturday, which was characterised and marred with violence.
Despite presentation of different winners’ lists in several LGAs in Ondo state, the Chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Ade Adetimehin, told Nigerians Tribune that the congresses went “smoothly and rancour free and peaceful.
Adetimehin said there was no parallel congresses in the areas monitored by him and the leadership of the party saying the party remained united in the state.
According to Adetimehin, the party remained one in the state and said, “there is only one centre in Akure South, and there are 27 elected delegates from the ward including five delegates from local government to elect government executives.
“The main duty of the Congress committee is to elect 27 local government executives for each local government across the Ondo State.
Speaking on the parallel congresses, the APC chairman said “on the parallel congresses, I am not aware but what I just know is that we have one congress committee set up by the National body of our party and they came down here to select three returning officers to go and conduct congresses across.
“At the National level, they have seven man committee with three returning officers that means we have one congress committee from the ward to the local and to the state.
“Today’s congress, the appeal committee has come and gone and if there is any problem you will tender it before the committee and they will look into it.
“There is no polarization in Ondo APC, we are one family, we are very united and that’s the symbol of our party ‘broom’.
But parallel congresses were held in Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore, Akoko South West, Ondo West, Ondo East and almost all local government areas in the state except Owo and Idanre local government areas.
In Akure South, the congresses led by the lawmaker representing Akure South /North federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Afe Olowookere, who said the officer who are to pilot the affairs of the party, while he described the congress as peaceful.
In Ifedore, the lawmaker representing Ifedore/ Idanre federal constituency, Hon. Bamidele Baderinwa, said the local government congress was held at the APC secretariat in the local government.
Reports from Kogi state also revealed that there were parallel Congresses in LGs in the state as factions loyal to Hon. James Faleke and Governor Yahaya Bello produced different winners.
In Bauchi state, the faction loyal to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara staged a protest to registers their dissatisfactions over the conduct of the exercise.
However, members of the party on the state who are in the camp of the state governor said the Congresses went peacefully.
