Saraki/Lai, Ganduje/Kwankwasiyya, Bello/Ametuo, Shittu/Ajimobi, Lead Parallel Congresses
Shettima, El-Rufai’s Men Retain Full Control
Why nPDP is APC’s Biggest Threat
The state congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday deepened cracks in the party as parallel executives emerged in states.
Parallel executives emerged in Kwara, Oyo, Kogi and Kano states, among others.
Two congresses took place in Kwara State with the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, leading a faction and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, heading another.
The Saraki-led faction held their congress at the Banquet Hall, opposite the Government House, Ilorin, while that loyal to the minister took place at Arca Santa event centre.
The congress of the Saraki faction was attended by Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, Speaker of the state assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Alhaji Kawu Baraje and representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from Abuja and Kwara State.
The other congress was witnessed by a former aide to Saraki, Moshood Mustapha, a member of Kwara State House of Assembly, Prince Saheed Popoola, Abdulganiyu Cook Olododo and Raheem Adedoyin, among others.
In the Kogi State, two state executive councils emerged from two congresses.
A faction of the congress conducted at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, saw the emergence of Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, aka “Dollar” as state chairman unopposed.
The congress was witnessed by Governor Yahaya Bello and other party members.
At another congress at St. Peter Primary School, Felele, Lokoja, the embattled state chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo and all his executive members, except two, returned through affirmation.
The two members are a zonal vice chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahovi and the state youth leader, Emmanuel Jimoh.
Two state executives also emerged in Oyo State. Both congresses were monitored by INEC officials and congresses committee members from Abuja.
An executive led by the outgone chairman of the party, Chief Akin Oke, held its congress at the Adamasingba stadium while another, led by Alhaji Isiaka Alimi was held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
Chief Oke and Alhaji Alimi were the outgone chairman and vice chairman, respectively.
Present at Awolowo Stadium were the minister of communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, senator representing Oyo Central, Monsurat Sunmonu, eight members of the House of Representatives, party leaders, 22 out of the 26 outgone executives of the party while former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and the former Senate leader, Teslim Folarin joined Governor Abiola Ajimobi at Adamasingba stadium.
The chairman of the congress committee and the former deputy governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Gwarzo, said he was not aware of any parallel congress.
However, a factional congress at BTO Hall, Akure, Ondo State was disrupted by hoodlums with party members and journalists injured.
But the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu-led faction congress held at the International Event Centre. Ade Adetimehin was elected the new chairman.
In Kano, the results of the congress led by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje are to be announced today, Daily Trust on Sunday learnt.
Up till the time of filing this report, delegates were still casting their votes at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Kwankwasiyya-led faction had conducted a parallel congress and elected a 36-member executive with Alhaji Haruna Umar Doguwa as chairman.
However, despite a directive by the national leadership of the party to postpone the Delta State Congress, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege/Chief Great Ogboru’s faction went ahead to conduct a state congress.
In a letter dated May 18, 2018, made available to Daily Trust on Sunday, the APC national secretary, Mai Mala Buni had informed INEC that the congress had been rescheduled for Monday, May 21.
But the chairman of the congress committee, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, in company of Senator Omo-Agege, Chief Ogboru, wife of former national chairman of the PDP Mrs. Maryam Ali and Chief Frank Kokori, arrived the St. Mulumba College, Okpanam, venue of the congress about 1.30pm and returned the incumbent 35-man state executive committee, led by Prophet Jones Erue by voice affirmation.
In Zamfara State, the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Lawali M. Liman, was elected as the new chairman of the party. He replaced Alhaji Lawali Abubakar Kaura who held the position since the time of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
In Yobe State, the executives were re-elected through affirmation. The congress was presided over by a national officer, Alhaji Lawan Kareto.
Those re-elected included Alhaji Adamu Chilariye, Chairman, Alhaji Alamai Kankare, deputy chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Bakabe, Secretary and Hajiya Ladi Jibrin, woman leader among others.
Also, the officials in Abia State were returned. The chairman, Chief Donatus Nwamkpa and all members of the State Working Committee were re-elected through consensus.
The Benue State congress also returned its executives in an affirmative order under the state chairmanship of Comrade Abba Yaro.
The re-elected party chairman, however, disclosed that Governor Samuel Ortom would remain the APC’s gubernatorial candidate in 2019 while the leader of the party in the state, Senator George Akume would retain the senatorial ticket for Benue North-West.
The congress in Akwa Ibom State decided to settle for a consensus candidates.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang said the decision was predicated on the decision of the party to accommodate all interests.
He said the party, by the decision, was trying to avoid a very contentious congress.
He added that the senatorial districts had concluded their mini exercises on who should occupy the different offices and whom they would sponsor as candidates of that bloc.
The congress in Bauchi was held under tight security in spite of court injunction secured by the Speaker of House of Represntatives, Yakubu Dogara, and six others, restraining the party from conducting the exercise.
However, the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Kamal Datti, said beefing up of security at the venue was normal.
The state party chairman, Alhaji Uba Nana, who re-contested, said the party was yet to be served with the court order.
In Edo State, the congress saw the re-emergence of Barrister Anselm Ojezua as the state party chairman through consensus.Governor Godwin Obaseki, commended the delegates for orderly conduct.
In Katsina State, about 1805 delegates took part in the congress where 36 officials were returned unopposed.
Also, the incumbent chairman in Gombe State, Mr Nitte K. Amangal was elected through affirmation as the new chairman.
In Nasarawa State, the party formally endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2019 presidential election and returned the entire state officials.
The congress in Plateau State was peaceful with the return of Hon. Latep Dabang and Alhaji Bashir Musa Sati as chairman and secretary, respectively.
All 34 other positions were also returned unopposed and one contestant for the chairmanship of the party Mr. Johnson Podar was disqualified because his name was not on the register of his ward.
The situation also played out in Niger State as the executives were returned through affirmation in a congress held in Minna.
In Kaduna, the party elected Air Commodore Emmanuel Jakada (rtd) as its new chairman.
The party has been without a substantive chairman since the former chairman, Yusuf Bala Bantex, was nominated in 2015 to be the governorship running mate to Nasir el-Rufai.
Meanwhile, Ali Bukar Dalori, a staunch ally of Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima bounced back to his seat as state chairman of the APC.
Other Shettima’s loyalists that emerged are Bello Ayuba, state secretary, Mohammed Babandoki, State Youth leader and Hajja Fati Kakinna as state woman Leader. They were among the 37 state executives elected at the congress.
The congress, which took place at the Elkanemi Sports Centre in Maiduguri, was conducted by officials from APC’s national headquarters.
It was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It was attended by members of the APC Board of Trustees, past and serving Senators, House of Representatives members, State Assembly members, past and serving public office holders at the National and State levels.
They all supported a consensus arrangement under which many aspirants voluntarily stepped down and made way for the governor’s anointed candidates.
A former Speaker of the Yobe State Assembly, Zanna Zakariyya, who chaired the congress committee, listed the names of candidates who had indicated interests for various positions.
He then asked in different languages if there was any aspirant who was interested in contesting for any seat but whose name was left out. When no one did, officials of the congress read the APC guidelines and constitution, which required affirmation of all consensus candidates by the delegates. The APC state executives were reelected after affirmation by delegates for a term of four years.
The executives of the Jigawa State chapter were returned unopposed in a congress conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.
The 35-member executives were returned unopposed through a voice vote.
