The last may not have been heard about the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State as the two major groups at the centre of the internal wrangling have inaugurated factional ward executives across the 236 wards in the state.
A faction led by Governor Dapo Abiodun on Thursday evening inaugurated its ward executive, while the other faction led by a former Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, took their oath of office on Friday morning, in Abeokuta.
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Abiodun and Amosun have been locking horns over the party structure with the two groups conducting parallel ward congresses on Saturday, July 31.
Two sitting Senators, Lekan Mustapha (Ogun East) and Tolu Odebiyi (Ogun West) loyal to Amosun had filed petitions against the ward congress before the five-man Appeal Panel set up by the national body of the party to resolve all issues surrounding the congress.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) reportedly ratified and adopted the results of Abiodun-led ward parallel congress.
Accordingly, the CECPC approved the immediate inauguration of Ward Executives by state caretaker committees.
This, it was learnt, paved the way for inauguration of factional ward executives by both groups.
On Thursday, Abiodun backed ward chairmen took their oath of office at the Mitros Hall, Abeokuta, which was administered on them by the party’s lawyer, Hon. Abeeb Ajayi.
Addressing them after the inauguration, the State chairman, APC Caretaker Committee for Ogun State, Yemi Sanusi, urged them to run an inclusive administration at their respective wards.
Sanusi said the door of the party is wide and open to receive as many people as desirous of joining the progressives train, adding that unity and peace should be pursued at all times to ensure that the party continue to succeed.
He also charged them to shun pride, divisive tendencies and one man show, saying such attitude breeds only disagreement and faction which would not be tolerated.
Less than 24 hours after inauguration of Governor Abiodun-backed ward executives, Amosun’s loyalists stormed his constituency office located at Leme, Abeokuta, on Friday morning and inaugurated the faction’s ward executives.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, Senator Odebiyi, former APC State Chairman, Derin Adebiyi, Amosun’s elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun, among others were present at the parallel inauguration.
Addressing the gathering, Odebiyi who was Amosun’s Chief of Staff, said, “I don’t have much to say. Let’s continue to do the right thing and very soon, our wishes and aspirations would come to pass.”
On his part, Adebiyi described Amosun-backed ward executives as the “authentic one.”
“We have submitted our results and they have approved of it,” he said.
He added that “we are in the majority and no reasonable and responsible party will abandon the majority of the minority.”
Warring factions set for parallel LG congresses Saturday
Daily Trust reports the two groups have expressed their readiness to conduct parallel local government congresses slated for Saturday.
Abiodun, while addressing party stakeholders on Wednesday, in preparation for the Saturday’s local government congress of the party in the state, assured members of the party of a level playing ground.
The governor, who is also the leader of the party in the state, urged members of the party to jettison their self interest and work for the success of the party.
Speaking on behalf of Amosun group, his elder brother, asked the loyalists of faction to mobilise en masse and participate in the Saturday’s LG congress.
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