A faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara says it will hold its ward congress in the 16 local government areas of the state.
The state APC factional Chairman, Abdullahi Samari, announced this on Tuesday at news conference in Ilorin.
He therefore called on members of the party to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner during the exercise.
Samari used the occasion to introduce members of the Ward Congress Committee from the National Secretariat of the party led by its chairman, Shuaib Umar.
“In line with Articles 11:A sub section (1 – x III) and Article 16 (1) of the Party Constitution (as amended), the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara will be organising its congresses across the 16 Local Government Areas,” he said.
According to him, this is in compliance with a directive by the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC under the leadership of Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe.
“It is pertinent to let members know that the ward congress slated for 31st July, 2021, will definitely hold in Kwara State with strictly compliance with the Congress Guideline that will be made available to all the party members through the State and Local Government Party Secretariats.
“The Ward Congress Committee, as appointed by the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee are already in the state to carry out their assignment in line with the guidelines.
“To ensure fairness and good participation, the seven member committee is drawn from other states of the federation.
“The committee has a Chairman, Secretary and five other members to carry out this exercise in the state,” he explained.
Samari added that the guideline would be strictly enforced in the state to ensure fair participation by all members who can vote and be voted for.
Responding to questions, the secretary of the ward congress committee, Mr Yusuf AbdulRahman, said they were ready to conduct the exercise in the state.
“We are well prepared for the assignment, as you know we have been on it since last three months.
“We only urge our party’s members in the state to come out and participate fully, as we are here for everybody,” the secretary said.
He appealed to all members of the party to eschew bitterness and ensure peaceful conduct of the congress.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the APC loyal to Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Abdulrahoof Bello, said their group was also ready for the congress.
Reacting to the development, Bello, the spokesman for the Integrity Group in Kwara APC, declared that there was no going back on the congress.
He however expressed the group’s disappointment that the national caretaker committee of the party has not lived up to its responsibility on the registration that they said would take place before the congress.
“We are unshaking in our determination to go ahead with the Congress.
“I want to assure our APC members to remain calm because they are all bona fide members of the party. They should not panic at all,” Bello said.
