ABEOKUTA– The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State on Wednesday conducted its ward congresses across all 20 local government areas of the state.
The exercise followed the endorsement of the convention timetable by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and APC governors, outlining a series of activities leading to the party’s national convention scheduled for next month.
Speaking after the congress in Ward 3, Iperu, in Ikenne Local Government Area, Governor Dapo Abiodun praised the calm atmosphere that characterised the exercise across the state, describing it as a reflection of unity and maturity within the party.
He also commended the immediate past ward executives for their leadership and achievements, noting that their managerial competence had strengthened the party at the grassroots.
“Outside the All Progressives Congress, there is no other party; every other party is a counterfeit. The APC remains the one and only party, not just in Nigeria but the leading party in Africa,” the governor said.
At another ward Congress monitored by our reporter, the member representing Abeokuta South federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Afolabi Afuape describe the exercise as rancour- free, saying that every party member was happy about the congress.
He said that elected 27 officers through voice vote and affirmation, with party members satisfaction
“We elected 27 of them through a voice vote and every one is happy about it and our belief is that the APC must lay a very good example.
“We have done our arrangement internally and we have decided who will get positions and we all agreed and that is the kind of love we all want other wards to emulate. We run a rancour free exercise, we are one family, Itoko is one and we will remain one family”, he said
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on health, Dr. Ololade Kehinde said they conducted a peaceful congress in his ward, saying that there was no disagreement among the party leaders.
“We are building the blocks so we know that once we are get it right at ward level, the local government will follow afterwards, the state and national convention will also take place.
” So, one of the things we are doing is we are making a deligent review process, electing those that are going to be coordinating our grassroots activities from ward level and one we conclude that we will now escalate to the local level as a matter of fact, we are also doing processing of those will be representing us at the various wards.
The Council Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government, Hon. Afeez Balogun Olaniyi in his speech during his ward congress said there was no crisis throughout the congress, maintaining that it was peaceful.
” We had a series of meetings with all the stakeholders just to make sure that we conduct a free and credible ward congress.
“We have to make sure that all our stakeholders are around and you know ward 13 as they call it is leaders ward. We like to set an example by the things we do to make sure it is all harmonious and everyone is carried along during the progress” he concluded
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abiodun on Youth Development, Hon. Babatunde Delu maintained that in his ward, the party leaders and members are delighted about the outcome of the congress, saying that it went peacefully
He said “We just have the ward congress for ward 13, Abeokuta South, that is Igbore, Ikanna, Itori and Oba and as you can see it all went peacefully all the exco members have chosen and decided upon by the party leaders and all the party faithfuls in the ward and they are all delighted by the outcome. I am happy with the out because it is what the party that i want”
