In Ogun State, groups loyal to Governor Dapo Abiodun and Senator Ibikunle Amosun conducted parallel congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state on Saturday.
Abiodun and Amosun have been at loggerheads over who controls the party structure in Ogun.
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The groups had equally conducted and inaugurated faction ward executives during the exercise held on July 31.
Also on Saturday, despite the warning by the Chairman of the State Congress Committee, Wale Ohu against anti party, the two groups elected their LG Party executives through consensus approach.
Daily Trust monitored the congress in Abeokuta South and Abeokuta North local government areas of the state, and observed that the congress was peaceful as there was no report of any violence.
In Abeokuta South, Abiodun’s loyalists held their congress at the Centenary Hall in Ake, Abeokuta while Amosun’s loyalists conducted their congress at the Panseke park.
In Abeokuta North, Amosun’s faction held their congress in the premises of the African Church Grammar school while Abiodun’s loyalists held theirs at Unity High school, Enugada, Abeokuta.
Our correspondent also observed that 27 officers of Abeokuta South LG emerged through voice affirmation.
Speaking on behalf of the Amosun faction, Tajudeen Lamboye, the SouthWest Legal adviser of APC insisted that the Amosun faction remained the authentic executive body of the party Abeokuta South LG.
Lemboye said, “We have successfully elected our officers for Abeokuta South local government area of the party. I’m a supporter of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and I’m one of his loyalists and we all here are his loyalists and we believe in his leadership that is why we are here.”
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, participated in the exercise at the St. Saviour Anglican Primary, Ikenne, venue of the congress in Ikenne Local Government Area.
A consensus was also adopted in electing a 27-man executive committee in Ikenne LG.
“Our party has grown from where we were in 2019 because people from other parties have joined us in large numbers,” he said.
“This party is an inclusive party. No one will be discriminated upon whether new or old member. We will give everybody equal opportunity.”
In his remarks after monitoring the exercise, Ohu noted that the 7- member Committee was sent from the national secretariat of the party to conduct free, fair and rancour free Congress, while applauding members for ensuring a peaceful exercise.
“This Congress is a fallout from the Ward Congress. The exercise in the State is excellent and perfect. We visited the 20 Local Government Areas in the state and we observed orderliness, consensus and it was great outing for our party members.
“We hope the party will sustain this and still want to state further that there is no parallel congress anywhere in the state. APC is one and any other thing apart from this is null and void”, Ohu declared.
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