The All Progressives Congress in Katsina State on Saturday elected executives for the 361 wards in the state. It claims that this is as “directed by the party’s national headquarters.
The election was by affirmation, as visits to some of the centres where the exercise took place showed.
The exercise, which began in the majority of the centres a few minutes before 10AM, was over by 2PM.
At Kangiwa ward in Katsina Local Government Area where party chieftain, Senator Abba Alli and Governor Aminu Masari’s Special Adviser on Labour, Mallam Tanimu Saulawa, participated, a 27-member executive was elected for the ward.
Senator Alli read out names of the new executive members as they all lined up before party members.
The party members affirmed their election by shouting “Affirmed, Affirmed, Affirmed” in unison.
Senator Ali, thereafter, announced them as new executives for the ward.
The exercise was supervised by an Independent National Electoral Commission officer in the state, Hajiya Aisha Mahuta, and plain clothes security operatives.
Similar exercises were also witnessed at Batagarawa A Ward and Dandagoro Ward in Batagarawa Local Government Area of the state; as well as in the remaining wards in different parts of the state.
The exercise was hitch-free and it was all over by 2 p.m.
The APC chieftain justified the adoption of what he described as “affirmation strategy” for the ward congresses in the state, insisting that that was the choice of party members.
Different political parties have their own strategies; but we at APC in Katsina adopted consensus strategy for the ward congresses after listening to our members who showed preference for the strategy.
The strategy is good for the unity and peace among party members, Ali stated.
