Exercise fails in Taraba
Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), have elected new Executive Committee members to pilot the affairs of the party in various States of the federation.
This follows the partys State congresses conducted yesterday in various the various States.
While the exercise went smoothly in some States, others witnessed the emergence of two sets of officials as a result of the parallel elections held.
Among the States where the exercise went smoothly was the Lagos chapter of the party. There, members adopted the voice vote approach to elect a new set of executive members. The election of the candidates for the 36 positions at the congress took place at the Onikan Stadium in the Lagos Island area of the State.
Party leaders at the congress included Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, and some members of the National Assembly. The Chairman of the Election Organising Committee, Adebayo Adelabu, explained that 35 out of the 36 positions were returned unopposed, adding that 37 forms were received for the office of the State chairman, but only two candidates were screened for the position.
Adelabu, said while one was disqualified, the committee was left with the option of one candidate for the position of the chairman.
In Yobe, the immediate-past Treasurer of the State chapter of the party, Mohammed Gadaka, emerged as the new chairman, alongside 35 other executive members.
Elsewhere, delegates from the 18 local government areas of Ondo State voted the acting State party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, to champion the APC in the state.
However, in Sokoto State, the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi and former Governor Aliyu Wamakko yesterday led their supporters to hold parallel congresses for the APC in Sokoto. The Wamakkos faction adopted consensus to return all 36 executives unopposed. Sadiq Achida was returned as chairman and Abubakar Muhammad Yabo as Secretary, with Haruna Adiya as Treasurer.
In Kano, Former Kano governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, Senator Barau Jibril (Kano-North) and other chieftains of the APC in the State did not attend the State Congress at the Indoor Sports Hall of Sani Abacha Stadium.
It was learnt that Senator Shekarau, who was Minister of Education from 2014 to 2015 and lawmaker representing Kano-Central, is having a frosty relationship with the State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, over who controls APC delegates in Kano.
While the State Congress was being held, Senators Shekarau and Jibril along with Hon. Ibrahim Shaaban Sharada, led some APC members loyal to a parallel Congress at an uncompleted building in Janguza, Tofa local government area.
Speaking at the APC Congress at the Indoor Stadium, Gov. Ganduje declared that any parallel Congress was illegitimate.
Just like in other States, APC members in Kaduna adopted the consensus option to elect new state executive committee members. This led to the emergence of Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada as the State chairman, while some former officials of the party were returned unopposed.
Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, and others attended the Congress, which was held at the Murtala Mohammed Square, in the State capital.
The Congress Committee Chairman, Abubakar Moddibo, explained that the consensus option adopted by the State chapter was in line with the partys Constitution.
However, as the congresses held in Ogun, Niger and other States, it suffered a setback in Taraba, where the exercise was rescheduled indefinitely.
APC spokesman in the State, Bulus Gago, confirmed this to newsmen yesterday. No reason was given for the postponement.
Elsewhere, delegates from the 18 local government areas of Ondo voted the Ag. State party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, to champion the APC in the State.
Alaye Adesina and Agabra Atile also emerged as secretary and deputy chairman at the congress, which was held at the International Culture and Events Centre, in Akure, the State capital.
