The State Congress of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was marred by crisis across many states on Saturday, our correspondents reports.
In states like Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Kano, Niger, Kwara among others, parallel congresses held.
The national secretariat of the party had suspended the congress in Oyo over alleged “forged” election materials and other “irregularities.”
In Osun, Ogun and Kano states, attempt by security agents to halt feuding members from holding parallel congresses were resisted, resulting into violence.
Osun
There were gunshots at Ogo-Oluwa area via Ladsol where loyalists of Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola were holding a separate congress from those loyal to Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The officers and men of the Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps(NSCDC) allegedly shot sporadically into the air to prevent suspected thugs from invading the premises where the congress was holding.
Aregbesola’s loyalists tagged: The Osun Progressives (TOP) has gathered to endorse the Caretaker Secretary of the party, Hon Rasaq Salinsile as chairman, when the incident happened.
Despite the incident, the exercise held.
Ogun
Security operatives sealed off the Ake Palace Ground in Abeokuta where loyalists of ex-Governor Ibikunle Amosun were supposed to hold a parallel congress.
The operatives from the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) as well as members of the Department of State Service (DSS) were seen taking over the palace ground.
They blocked the entrance to the palace arcade ground with vehicles and prevented Amosun loyalists from going ahead with their planned parallel APC congress.
It was gathered that thugs loyal to both Ibikunle and Governor Dapo Abiodun earlier clashed at Ake Palace area over the planned parallel congress.
The APC members loyal to the immediate past Governor had announced the Ake Palace Arcade Ground as venue of their parallel APC congress while the Hon. Wale Ohu- led State Congress Committee, fixed the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Kuto as it’s venue.
Kwara
Although there was no reported cases of violence in Kwara but a faction loyal to Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed as usual, held a parallel congress.
The faction reelected former caretaker committee chairman Bashir Bolarinwa as its chairman and other executives at a parallel delegate conference at its Secretariat in Ilorin, the state capital through affirmation.
Announcing the new executives, Returning Officer, Dr Bolaji Afolabi, said the new executives emerged by the wish of the majority members of the party.
Kano
In Kano, members of Joint Stakeholders Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau held a parallel congress at a designated location.
The Joint Stakeholders Forum comprises of lawmakers and others who are opposed to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
The lawmakers include Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, Senator Barau Jibril (Kano North), Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe ( Dawakin Tofa/ Tofa/Rimin Gado) and
Nasiru Abduwa Babasawa (Gezawa/Babasawa).
Others include Barr. Haruna I Dederi (Karaye/Rogo), Shaaban Sharada, (Kano Municipal) and chairman, Buhari Support Group (BSO), Shehu Dalhatu.
The members where earlier prevented by officers and men of the Department of State Service (DSS) from holding the congress at the Sani Abacha Youth Centre, proposed venue for the exercise.
Security operatives also fired teargas at Senator Barau Jibrin supporters at the Youth Centre, along Madobi road.
The faction later reconvened at Janguza area of Kano state where Alhaji Ahmadu Danzago emerged as chairman.
Lagos
Lagos4Lagos movement, a group challenging the “hegemony” of the APC National Leader and former Governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, held a parallel state congress on Saturday.
At the congress, Sunday Ajayi from Agege Local Government was elected as chairman of the faction.
Lagos4Lagos group is led by Olajide Adediran, popularly called “Jandor.”
Earlier, on Saturday, APC, Lagos, led by out-going Tunde Balogun, in few hours to the state congress, also released a list of the consensus executive council members, with former House of Representatives member and ex-Chairman of Ojo Local Government, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, emerging the Chairman-designate.
In a statement on Friday, the list has ex-Lawmaker, Sumi Odesanya, as Secretary-designate; former Commissioner for Special Duties in the state, Seye Oladejo as the Publicity Secretary-designate, while former Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government, Comrade Ayodele Adewale is the Organising Secretary-designate.
Niger
The Niger chapter of the party also produced parallel executives following the refusal to allow the APC Congress screening panel to screen and accredit some members aspiring for various positions.
The group sworn in Nasiru Ubandiya as it’s chairman.
In his acceptance speech, the factional chairman said that the election they held was legal as there were INEC representatives, Congress Committee from Abuja, security agencies, CSOs and other stakeholders who witnessed the election.
He promised to take the APC in Niger State to the next level while calling on all stakeholders and members to give the new administration all the necessary support and cooperation.
Gombe
In Gombe, former Governor Danjuma Goje, now senator representing Gombe central, was conspicuously absent.
Speaking at the Pantami Township Stadium, Chairman, Congress Committee, Dr. Danjuma Dabo, adjudged the congress as successful, adding that aggrieved members should channel their grouse to the appropriate authority.
The consensus for the state executives produced 36 persons, with 80 per cent of the former cabinet returning including the caretaker committee chairman, Nitte Amangal.
