Author: oduduwanews

Aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have dragged the leadership of the party to court to challenge the outcome of the last Saturday state congress in the state.

The plaintiffs who are members of The Osun Progressive (TOP) are loyal to a former Governor of the state and Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.
They held a parallel Congress at Ogo-Oluwa area in Osogbo while the other was held at the Osogbo City Stadium where the Chairman of the party, Prince Adegboyega Famodun was re-elected for a second term.

But on Monday, the group dragged the Chairman of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni and the Chairman of Osun State Ward Congress Committee, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, to the Federal High Court in Osogbo over the manner the Congress were conducted.

The plaintiffs, Yusuf Asifat Makanjuola and 2,516 others said they paid the stipulated amount and obtained forms to participate in the Congresses of the party but were sidelined by the committee.

The plaintiffs also joined the Osun State chapter of the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Chairman of the Osun State Ward Congress Appeal Committee, Ambassador Obed Wadzani as defendants.

There were parallel APC state congresses in most of the states of the federation on Saturday.

The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has mocked the ruling party for its inability to conduct a free and fair state congress across the country, saying it was a reflection of what the party stood for.

The members of the National Committee on Osun State Congress of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), on Sunday described as political charade and a fruitless effort any Congress purportedly held outside one they conducted and supervised.

The Committee noted that it was not aware of any parallel Congress as being speculated, noting that if such happened at all, it was just a waste of time as the committee remained the legitimate body saddled with the responsibility to conduct the State Congress.

Recall that the 7-member of the Committee on Saturday conducted the State Congress at the Osogbo City Stadium where the former Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun, was re-elected just as other State Executives emerged.

Addressing the journalists at the State Party Secretariat, Osogbo, the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, said there was no other Congress except the one his colleagues conducted and supervised, which was done in line with the party’s constitution, electoral principles and guidelines.

Elegbeleye, who described the insinuations of parallel Congress in the State as a fallacy, said on no account can Congress hold outside the knowledge of the Committee as prescribed by the party’s principles and guidelines.

“As far as we are concerned, there was no Congress anywhere else except the one we conducted and supervised.

“We came here on Friday to address a Stakeholder’s meeting where we announced the venue of the Congress and this was done in the presence of the media.

“As you all know, we were saddled by the leadership of the party at the National Secretariat to conduct Osun APC Congress and when we arrived, we announced the venue of the Congress. So, if anybody goes to the shrine to do another thing, that may probably be a marriage ceremony, not a Congress.

“The Congress we did was the Congress that the party recognised and we cannot assume there was a Congress elsewhere”, he said.

Elegbeleye who expressed satisfaction at the entire process, said it was a good thing for the Committee that all the candidates that met the constitutional requirements and satisfied the party’s principles and guidelines won the seats and were consequently declared winners of the Congress by the Committee.

He said the Committee had done the needful as expected, having performed the task in the presence of the required electoral empire and other relevant agencies.

“The Congress was successful, hitch-free, fair and credible as envisaged and it was conducted in accordance with the Constitution, principles and guidelines of the party as enshrined in Article 20 as read out yesterday.

“We have had the Wards and Local Government Congresses before the State and we thank God that everything went smoothly without rancour as our members comported themselves and demonstrated the much-expected Omoluabi ethos.

“As we all know, the screening of the delegates was done normally and it was a 99 percent success. We have done the needful. The winners had met the constitutional requirements and they have been returned elected,” he added.

Earlier, the APC State Chairman-elect, Hon. Gboyega Famodun, lauded the Committee for being transparent, accountable and for ensuring that the entire process ended well.

Famodun who expressed profound gratitude to the loyalists of the party for re-electing him promised not to let them down.

“I thank the Committee for a job well done and for giving us a wonderful executive through the Congress conducted. I want to assure you all on behalf of my team that we will put in our best.

“I commend the Press for doing us proud and for ensuring effective coverage.

“I commend those that contributed to the success of the Congress, particularly the Governor who has been so supportive. I extend tremendous appreciation to Chief Adebisi Akande who has been superintending the whole thing.

“I am happy, glad and overwhelmed for what we did yesterday. By the grace of God, we will not disappoint you all,” he added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oyo State, says it recognises only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Congress conducted on Saturday at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba in Ibadan.

Mr Mutiu Agboke, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ibadan.

Agboke spoke when he led the management team of the commission on advocacy visit to Abere Central Mosque, Agbowo, Ibadan.

NAN recalls that two parallel PDP State Congresses were held on Saturday in Ibadan where two separate executives of the party emerged.

The faction of the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, held its congress at the main bow of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba.

Similarly, the aggrieved PDP members led by former Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mrs Mulikat Adeola-Akande and Chief Bisi Olopoeniyan, held their separate congress at Jogor Centre, Liberty Road, off Ring Road, Ibadan.
The two factions had claimed the presence of INEC officials at their respective congress venues.

Agboke said the claim that INEC officers were present at the other venue apart from the Adamasingba was an unfounded insinuation, “because the person must have insinuated it that INEC attended two venues”.

According to him, INEC does not, or will never interact or relate with a group, in other words INEC does not know group, INEC knows political party.

“Therefore, the venue given to the commission by the PDP, as a political party, was Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, which of course, INEC staff attended.

“The representative of the commission from Abuja, the HOD Election and Party Monitoring and two other staff were at the Adamasingba. So, the claim that INEC attended any other congress is untrue.

“For us as electoral body, we have the policy of doing the right thing and that is what we are going to do,” the REC said.

Earlier, Agboke, while addressing Muslim faithful at the Abere Central Mosque, Agbowo, charged religious leaders and their congregation to take active part in the electoral processes, saying that their participation would enhance the nation’s democratic growth.

He said that participation of more people of integrity with fear of God, would have good impact in the society, thereby making life better for all and sundry.

The REC said those who were not interested in politics should show interest now.
He said that those who have yet to register for the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) should do so.

“Those that are yet to collect their PVC from the custody of the commission should collect them, so that we can have good platform for elections in Oyo State,” Agboke said.

On importance of such advocacy visit, the Oyo REC said that it was necessary for us to be engaging major stakeholders and public advocacy about what INEC was doing.

“Otherwise, you will give room for insinuations, misgivings and the likes.

“So, when this religious group extended an invitation to us that it needed voter education, I quickly embrace the invitation.

“Coming here is an avenue for us to teach them some of the things they do not know about election, about Continuous Voters Registration and other things INEC is doing, and that was what we have told them,” he said.

NAN reports that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Raji and other top management of INEC in Oyo State, took part in the advocacy visit.(NAN)

Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has congratulated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, on the occasion of his birthday anniversary, describing him as a distinguished royal father and worthy ambassador of the State.

Oyetola in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, lauded the traditional ruler for prioritising the welfare of his subjects and his commitment to the peace, stability and development of Osun and Nigeria as a whole since he ascended the throne.

The Governor also praised Oba Ogunwusi’s devotion to youth empowerment and development, noting that his various interventions in youth advocacy, entrepreneurship, agriculture and education have impacted young people within and outside Osun.

He also appreciated the monarch for his support for the Administration and for being a key partner of the State government on issues of governance, security and development.

“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Osun, I felicitate you on the celebration of your birthday and pray Almighty God to continue to endow you with wisdom, good health and strength to continue to serve your people, our State and country,” Oyetola said.

The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN has expressed delight over the outcome of the just-concluded State Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

The Governor specifically thanked members of the Party for what he described as an “exemplary and unique show of unity and love”. This is even as he congratulated the newly-elected State Executive Committee led by Engr. Ade Adetimehin.

His words:
“Saturday’s exercise was a well proven point. Its outcome, which was the fruit of hardwork and selflessness on the part of Party members, depicts no less, an admirable signpost.

“The exemplary and unique show of unity and love, commitment and comportment as well as the enviable display of commonality are alluring virtues that have singled Ondo APC out during this exercise.

“In all these, aside giving God the Glory, the leadership of the Party deserves a huge commendation and indeed, gratitude for the way and manner members conducted themselves. They have all shown the great men and women in them, as Leaders.

“Their cooperation, understanding and uncommon networking contributed in no small measure, to the moulding of a solid foundation from the Wards and Local Government Congresses which culminated in the seamless State Congress.

“For the newly-elected State Executive Committee ably led by Engr. Adetimehin, it deserves a big CONGRATULATION. Specifically, Adetimehin’s commitment to engender unity, cohesion and deepen party values is as palpable as his passion for the development of the State. There is no doubt he, alongside his team, will take Ondo APC to further greater heights as they commence this task for another four years.

“In spite of all, certain complaints as regards Constitutional infractions in respect of age as it concerns some offices are noted. Such will not be overlooked; they shall be thoroughly investigated and remedial measures will be enforced to redress same”, the governor said.

The crisis in the Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congresses (APC) took a turn for worse on Saturday as two factions of the party held parallel congresses.

The Ilerioluwa Group is the faction loyal to Gboyega Oyetola, Osun governor, while The Osun Progressives (TOP) has the backing of Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior and former governor of the state.

Gboyega Famodun was re-elected as the state chairman of the party as the Ilerioluwa Group held its congress at the Osogbo City Stadium.

Tajudeen Lawal was elected as the deputy chairman, while Alao Olabisi was elected as the secretary.

The Osun Progressives, on the other hand, held its parallel congress at the Onward area of Osogbo, Osun state capital.

Rasaq Salinsile was elected as the chairman of the faction while Adelani Baderinwa, a former commissioner for information in the state, was elected as the secretary.

According to NAN, both factions adopted consensus arrangement and affirmation by congress members to ratify the exercise.

Pandemonium broke out during the parallel congress organised by the loyalists of Rauf Aregbesola as suspected thugs attempted to disrupt proceedings.

The thugs were said to have invaded the venue and attempted to hijack the congress.

The Osun Progressives members scampered for safety while some of them sustained various degrees of injuries.

Security operatives deployed to the venue eventually succeeded in repelling the disruptors.