Ogun APC LG Congress: Abiodun, Amosun In Two Horse Race

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji

ABEOKUTA - As the Ogun State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) holds its local government congresses today, indications have emerged that the exercise might not be smooth across the 20 local government areas.

Although most states have retained the consensus model in determining how the winners would emerge, fears of parallel congresses loom in Ogun state where internal crises are yet to be resolved.

Investigation by THE ENCOUNTER NEWS revealed that Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ipokia, Imeko-Afon, Ijebu-Igbo, and Obafemi Owode that witnessed frictions during the ward congresses might follow the same pattern.

The ward congresses held in July had widened the rift within ranks of the party, as the two factions of the party have inaugurated parallel ward executives across the 236 wards in the state.

The chairman of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni, who doubles as Yobe State governor, has urged party members to conduct themselves peacefully during the local government congresses.

Buni, who described the exercise as a family affair that should be executed without rancour in the interest of the party, added that the party leadership had substantially complied with the dictates of the party’s constitution to promote internal democracy for the success of the congresses.

The chairman, in a statement signed by his director-general of press and media, Mamman Mohammed, also urged officials handing the local government congresses to be just and fair to all aspirants.

He also advised the aspirants to respect the rules of the game and embrace the spirit of sportsmanship in the outcome.

“We should all abide by the rules governing the election to remain a role model to other political parties,” he said.

Buni, who assured that all anomalies that were employed to manipulate the election results would be addressed, called on aggrieved members to channel their complaints through the constituted channels to seek redress.

Meanwhile, reports received from our correspondents revealed varying preparations for the congresses.

The faction led by Governor Dapo Abiodun had last Thursday evening inaugurated its ward executives, while the other faction led by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun inaugurated its wards executives yesterday (Friday) morning in Abeokuta.

The two factions had on Saturday, July 31, 2021, conducted parallel ward congresses.

Two serving 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 exercise.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) reportedly ratified and adopted the results of the ward congress conducted by the governor’s faction.

Accordingly, the CECPC approved the immediate inauguration of ward executives by the state caretaker committee.

In compliance with the directive, the Abiodun-backed ward executives took their oath of office at the Mitros Hall, Abeokuta, last Thursday, which was administered on them by the party’s lawyer, Abeeb Ajayi.

Addressing them after the inauguration, the state Caretaker Committee chairman, Yemi Sanusi, urged them to run an inclusive administration at their respective wards.

Sanusi said the door of the party was 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 the continued success of the party.

He also charged them to shun pride, divisive tendencies, and one-man show, saying such attitudes breed only disagreement and faction, which would not be tolerated.

But less than 24 hours after the inauguration of the Abiodun-backed ward executives, Amosun’s loyalists stormed his constituency office located at Leme, Abeokuta, and inaugurated the faction’s ward executives amidst mammoth crowd.

The mammoth crowd mobilized across the 20 local government areas of the state yesterday according to political observers was an indication of Governor Abiodun's inability to hold grip of the party structure and lack of performance.

Notable among party stalwarts at the Amosun's faction inauguration were Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, Senator Odebiyi, former APC state chairman, Derin Adebiyi, and Amosun’s elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun.

Addressing the gathering, Senator Odebiyi, 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.”

In his own address, the factional Chairman loyal to Amosun, Chief Derin Adebiyi described the Amosun-backed ward executives as the “authentic one.”

“We have submitted our results and they have approved it,” he said, adding: “We are in the majority and no reasonable and responsible party will abandon the majority for the minority.”

The two factions have also expressed their readiness to conduct parallel local council congresses slated for today.

THE ENCOUNTER NEWS shall bring you the updates of the local government congresses as news from our reporters fly in.