The festering crises which trailed the Ward and Local Government Congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have widened cracks in the party as boycotts, protests, parallel congresses and violence characterise the congresses, yesterday.
In Lagos, it was test of might as party chieftains not only held parallel congresses but flexed muscles. The action culminated in violence in some parts of the state, leading to the death of one person in Agege area and two others injured. Parallel local government congresses were also held in Ondo, Enugu and Bayelsa and part of Edo State, while the event was postponed in Imo State. This came as the party in the state slammed an indefinite suspension on two prominent figures of the Rochas Okorocha faction of the party
In Kano State, the rancour between Governor Abdulahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Senator Musa Kwawkwaso reached another level last week when they held parallel congresses. It was said that Kwankwaso boycotted the local government congress yesterday. In Enugu State, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and Director General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, emerged as national delegates from Udi Local Government Area in parallel congresses.
Okechukwu and Onyeama, from Eke Ward, were elected in the local government area. While Okechukwu’s group held their Congress at the APC office at Aboh Road, 9th Mile, in Udi Local Government area, Onyeama’s group held theirs at Comprehensive High School, Udi-Abia
Speaking to journalists at the end of his camp’s congress, Onyeama alleged that his efforts to harmonise the previous ward congress in the state in order to have a single democratic process and free and fair election proved abortive, as the National Congress Committee, led by Dr. Okechukwu Odikpo and state chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye frustrated him. In Imo State, a statement signed by the state party chairman, Dr. Hilary Eke, said the postponement of the LG Congress followed series of violent attacks on the party office and officials by hoodlums he said were led by government officials.
The statement reads in part: “On Friday, May 5, hoodlums led by some government functionaries attacked the party office, destroyed everything in the state chairman’s office and carted away documents and other valuables. “Similarly on Friday, May 11, fire from strange source engulfed the state party office in broad daylight. Consequently, the National Chairman of our party has advised that the LG Congress be shifted to Monday.”
The Chairman also announced that Chief Charles Amadi and Chief Okenze Obinna have been suspended indefinitely from the party, having allegedly contributed to destabilising the party in the state. While Obinna had earlier been suspended by his Ward for anti party activities, Amadi is said to be mobilising for the impeachment of the Deputy Governor of the state against party interests. Evidence of division in Bayelsa APC was manifest as former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva led a five-man National Panel of Local Congress Committee to supervise voting in the eight local government councils and affirmed that it was peaceful and signified the beginning of good steps for the party
However, some party leaders led by Prince Preye Aganaba, former Speaker and Acting Governor, Hon. Nestor Binabo, the Bayelsa representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. John Brainbaifa, former member of the Federal House of Representative, Hon. Billy Indiamowei and Dr. Allison declared that the local government Congress conducted by Chief Timipre Sylva and others was fake and carried out without genuine delegate lists.
In Lagos, yesterday, violence broke out in some local governments as federal lawmakers, state lawmakers, council chairmen and political officeholders fought to ensure that the election of party’s council executives and delegates went in their favour
Some of the party chieftains used the congress to position themselves for the forthcoming primaries of the party as they struggle for council executives and delegates to ensure that they are in advantage position for 2019 elections. Sunday Telegraph also gathered that some APC members loyal to the APC National Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire and embattled APC Vice Chairman (Lagos- Central), Mr. Fuad Oki, held parallel congresses in some local governments to elect their own executives and delegates.
The parallel congresses were a reflection of the internal wrangling in Lagos APC and battle for control of the party’s structures at ward, local government and state levels. During the congresses, the battle for supremacy led to the death of an APC member in Agege Local Government Area, indentified as Nurudeen Olanose, who was shot dead during the crisis that broke out between alleged loyalists of Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and former chairman of the council, Hon. Jubril Abdulkarim.
The deceased and other people were allegedly shot at Central School, Dopemu, during violence that broke out after voting ended yesterday.
Sunday Telegraph also gathered that the congresses equally had some challenges in Epe, Oriade, Apapa- Iganmu, Ojodu, Kosofe, Ibeju-Lekki, and Ikorodu among others, leading to late resolution or inconclusiveness of the exercise in those areas.
On the controversy over the local government congress in Epe, APC chieftain, Chief Lanre Rasak said that party leaders had agreed on consensus candidates with their names duly signed by the party leaders and forwarded to the party’s secretariat ahead of the exercise, maintaining that the list used for accreditation was different from what was agreed upon. The leaders of the Rivers State chapter of the party, loyal to Transport Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, held the local government ward congress, with some party leaders describing the exercise as credible.
The protesters were, however, driven away by another set of protesters who declared that the courts must be allowed to operate. In the 23 council areas of the state where the local government congress held, party leaders said that the injunction cannot, in any way, prevent a genuine democratic exercise from taking place. Speaking on the outcome of the congresses and their aftermath, APC Spokesman, Bolaji Abdulahi, said it was expected that in any contest, there would be winners and losers.
Hence, not everyone would be satisfied. “What we will continue to say is that we have also taken remedial measures that whoever feels aggrieved, we have the appeal committee, where they can seek appeal. But we will continue to urge party members across the country to have faith in the system and know that these contests are not a door- die. “Those who win should be magnimous and those who lose should know that that is the outcome of democracy and they should go and prepare themselves for the next time.
.new telegraph
