In this report, SAMSON BENJAMIN looks at how parallel congresses became the main feature of last Saturday’s state congresses of the All Progressives Congress(APC), as well as highlights how all the executives emerged by consensus and affirmation without delegates actually voting.
In the beginning, there was just a reported case of parallel election when the All Progressives Congress(APC) held its ward congresses on May 5, 2018, across the country. The aberration allegedly took place in Kano state but in subsequent congresses, it spread to more states.
Chairman of the Kwankwasiyya-led faction of the APC, Alhaji Haruna Umar Doguwa, in an interview claimed that parallel congresses were held in all the wards in Kano state, however, Chairman of the seven-man congress team, Chief John Halims O. Agoda, disputed Doguwa’s claim.
Last Saturday, the incidence of parallel elections during the APC state congresses was overwhelming. From Lagos state to Kwara state; Abia state to Oyo state, as well as Enugu state, the story was the same.
In addition, where the congresses were held, the executives emerged by consensus and affirmation in line with the party’s constitution.
Across the country, not a single vote was cast as only anointed candidates emerged. Significantly, this gave rise to the parallel congresses that marked last Saturday’s exercise.
Similarly, violence and disobedience to court orders and party directives also held sway.
Thugs assault delegates, journalists in Ondo
Reports indicate that during the congress in Ondo state, thugs descended on the Senator Ajayi Boroffice faction of APC, chased delegates and journalists out of the BTO Event Centre, Akure. In the process, a lawmaker representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Hon Dele Baderinwa; Osun state Commissioner for Regional Integration, Chief Bola Ilori; and other chieftains of the party were injured.
Also, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo state chapter; and the Correspondent, Thisday newspapers, James Sowole; the correspondent, Nation newspaper, Damisi Ojo as well as with the Correspondent, Sun newspapers, Bamigbola Gbolagunte; were beaten by the thugs, suspected to be members of National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW).
Similarly, three vehicles were destroyed and traffic was disrupted along the Ilesha Garage Road for more than one hour.
However, members of the faction later reassembled at Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area, where they elected Idowu Otetubi as the Chairman, APC Ondo state, and Gani Muhammed as secretary.
In the same vein, the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu faction held its congress at the International Conference and Events Center (Dome), Akure, with the acting Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, being returned, unopposed as substantive chairman of the party in the state.
Nnamani, Chime, others escape attack in Enugu
Notable APC bigwigs narrowly escaped death, in Enugu as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, allegedly stormed the state congress with thugs. Reports have it that, former Senate President Ken Nnamani; immediate past Governor of Enugu state, Sullivan Chime; the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu; and the National Vice Chairman of APC, South-east, Emma Eneukwu; escaped attack by the whiskers.
According to reports, all the dignitaries were already seated at the Indoor Sports Hall of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, venue of the congress, however, when delegates were being called the minister, in the company of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Justice Reforms, Mrs. Juliet Ibekaku, allegedly stormed the venue with thugs, who were chanting his praises and chased away the delegates.
In addition, they pounced on members of the congress committee from the APC National Secretariat and beat them up. However, as the rampaging thugs moved towards the high table, security operatives were said to have quickly whisked the dignitaries away.
Onyema and his group, were said to have taken control of the venue and continued with the congress.
Blueprint Weekend gathered that on Friday night, a day before the congress, the minister had allegedly expressed his frustration with the congress process which gave incumbent party executives waivers.
According to reports, he had complained that the waivers gave them an undue advantage over other party members.
‘Anti-Tinubu’ faction holds parallel congress in Lagos
In Lagos, parallel congresses were held by two different factions in the state. Precisely, the faction loyal to APC National Leader and former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, held its congress at the APC secretariat in Ikeka, while the Fouad Oki faction set up camp at Lagos Airport Hotel.
In February, Oki, who until recently was a loyalist of the APC leaders, had led other aggrieved members of the party in the state to form a group, the Broom United Movement.
It is worth noting that Oki was the Campaign Director for Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s 2015 gubernatorial election, a position he also held during Tinubu’s governorship campaigns as well as his successor’s, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, now Minister of Power, Works and Housing.
Expectedly, at the Airport Hotel congress, Oki emerged the chairman of the APC in the state, while Sanni Oloye and Wole Oshodi became deputy chairman and secretary respectively. Similarly, a former commissioner in the state, Mr Tunde Balogun, emerged chairman of the Tinubu-led faction of the APC, which was witnessed by the Uche Ekwunife-led congress committee.
Ironically, Ms Ekwunife in her remark had commended party members for holding a peaceful congress, promising to market Lagos to other states of the federation on how to organize rancour-free transition.
Saraki, Lai head separate congresses
In Kwara, two parallel state congresses also took place, both in Ilorin, the state capital. While the faction loyal to the Senate President Bukola Saraki held its congress at the Banquet Hall opposite the Government House, another congress by a faction loyal to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, took place at Arca Santa Event Hall.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed; APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; Senator Shaaba Lafiaji; and lawmakers representing the state at the National Assembly and state House of Assembly all converged at Banquet Hall.
At the event, the senate president commended members of the party for the peaceful conduct of the ward and local government congresses, noting that most of the executive at the wards and local government are youths and this sign posts good things to come in 2019.
At the other congress, a former Special Assistant to the Senate President on Special Duties and Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Alhaji Moshood Mustapha. Likewise, a former Commissioner for Information during the Saraki-led administration in the state, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, was at the Lai factional congress.
Significantly, the new executive of the two factions emerged through consensus.
Gov Bello, Falake divide Kogi APC
In the same vein, two different state executives emerged at Kogi state congress, following parallel congress by the two main factions of the party in the state.
The faction loyal to Governor Bello held its congress at the Confluence Stadium while that of the Audu/Faleke faction took place at St Peters Primary School, Felele, Lokoja.
Abdulahi Bello, Ibrahim AbduRahman and Josiah Onawa emerged chairman, deputy chairman and secretary respectively at the Governor Bello’s faction congress, which was attended by his deputy, Mr Simon Achuba; the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Mathew Kolawole; Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade; commissioners as well as state and federal legislators.
The election was also supervised by Chairman of the state Congress Committee, Alhaji Mamman Ali Magaji; Kogi state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. James Apam; and other INEC officials.
Delegates to the Audu/Faleke faction on their part returned the former chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo and 34 members of the executive by affirmation.
Gov Ajimobi, Shittu in show of strength in Oyo
In Oyo, it was the same story as Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s faction held its congress at Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, with former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala; former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin and deputy governor of the state, Chief Moses Adeyemo in attendance.
In the end, Chief Akin Oke was returned as state chairman of the party, while Chief Lekan Adeyemo emerged as his deputy, just as Hon. Mojeed Olaoye was elected the faction’s secretary and Mr. Folatona John as the assistant secretary.
Likewise, some aggrieved party members, under the aegis of APC Unity Forum, held its congress at the Liberty Stadium led by the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu; Senator Monsurat Sumonu and eight members of the House of Representatives.
Blueprint Weekend information has it that 22 out of the 26 immediate past party executives were at the congress.
Ironically, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of congress committee from the national secretariat monitored both congresses.
Omo Agege defies party directives, holds congress
In Delta state, Senator Omo Agege’s faction of APC, led by Chief Great Ogboru, held its congress, in defiance of the National Working Committee’s directive.
The NWC, following complaints, had brought the state congress forward to last Monday but Omo Agege held the poll at St Mulumbas Secondary School, Okpanam, on Saturday. According to reports, the congress which did not last 30 minutes produced a 35-member state executive with Prophet Jones Erue retaining his chairmanship position by affirmation.
However, some aggrieved youths led by John Azuka, protested during the congress, claiming that they were denied the opportunity to contest. According to Azuka, “we reject in its entirety, the Kangaroo state congress that was conducted today (last Saturday). In spite of our shouting objection, objection, objection, the congress committee chairman ignored us. We were seriously short-changed in the whole process and I can tell that what happened is nothing but a sham.’’
However, party leaders like the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu; Governorship Aspirant, Dr Cairo Ojuigboh; and Political Economist and party chieftain, Professor Pat Utomi; as well as other party chieftains boycotted the congress.
…Imo APC defies court order
In Imo state, one of the factions went ahead to conduct the state congress, despite a Federal High court of Owerri order stopping the exercise. The action, according to reports, heightened tension in Owerri, the Imo State capital, as over 200 with about 20 operational vehicles, barricaded the APC secretariat.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state, Mr Andrew Enwerem, said that the Police were determined to enforce the court order. According to him, Police would arrest anybody “who tries to defy the court order in order to conduct the state congress.”
However, a faction still went ahead to conduct the state congress with 1,500 delegates from the 305 wards in attendance and elected a new state executive under the supervision of officials from the national secretariat and the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
According to APC chairman in Imo state, Mr Hilary Eke, “the congress was very peaceful and we are working hard to make sure that the people take back Imo APC.”
However, the APC secretary in the state, Mr Obioma Ireagwu, said that Eke had earlier been suspended for alleged anti-party activities and with his action, he risks a jail term for defying an order of a court of competent jurisdiction. Ireagwu vowed to ensure that those who took part in the congress would face the full wrath of the law.
A day before the congress, Barrister Mbagwu Augustine, and four others, had filed a suit against APC before a Federal High Court in Owerri. The plaintiffs, in the motion exparte sought “an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st to 10th Defendants, their privies, servants, agents or any one acting on their behalf or any organ of the APC from holding a Local Government congress of the APC or any other congress in Imo state pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction”.
The court, presided over by Justice A. Lewis Allagoa, had granted the order, asking that, “the respondents are hereby ordered to appear in court on the next adjourned date to show cause why the order should not be granted.’’
According to the ruling, “the returned date shall be May 22, 2018, provided that the respondents are served 48 hours before then.’’
However, the coalition of All Progressives congress leaders and stakeholders in Imo state, led by Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Senator Osita Izunaso, said that it was not aware of any court order stopping the Imo APC state congress holding.
Significantly, the way and manner the state congresses were conducted across the country suggest that the June national convention will be fractious and the fall out may lead to mass defection if nothing is done between now and that time.
