APC State Congresses: Party Officials Retain Positions In Kwara, Lagos, Kebbi,Ogun…Gov’s Aide Emerges As Chairman In Ondo…Omo Agege, Other Party Bigwigs Stay Away In Delta

Members of the ruling APC on Tuesday gathered at chosen locations in the state capitals in the country to renew the mandate of their leaders across the 36 states and it presented a diverse array of spectacles.

There were locations that had gleeful party members, some had angry party members while some exchanged murmurs of annoyance.

In Lagos State, the state exco was retained and the party officials have gotten a fresh term.

The state chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi retained his position during the state congress held at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Tuesday.

Other members of the state exco are Mr Moshood Mayegun (Deputy Chairman), Dr Adeola Jokomba (Secretary) ,Mr Oluseye Oladejo (Publicity Secretary), Legal Adviser, Mrs Folashade Bakare; Treasurer, Mr Abiodun Ayigbe; Financial Secretary, Mr Banjo Adedoyin-Wasiu; Organizing Secretary, Mr Ayodele Adewale and the Youth Leader, Mr Seriki Muritala. They all emerged through ‘consensus arrangement’.

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Chairman of the State Congress Committee, Mrs Stella Okotete, announced the consensus list of State Executive Committee members and they got elected by acclamation.

Members of the party in Ogun State also gathered at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta to re-elect Yemi Sanusi as chairman of the party in the state. Two former governors of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Senator Gbenga Daniel were conspicuous by their absence,

In Oyo State, a former Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, has emerged as new chairman of the party in the state.

Chief Alake Adeyemo, an indigene of Igboho, who was the deputy governor of the state during the Abiola Ajimobi administration, was a ‘consensus candidate’ and he got elected during the state congress held at Liberty Stadium, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

In the Sunshine State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and those who are loyal to him, defied a court order to conduct a state congress that had officials of the electoral umpire ,Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staying away from the venue of the state congress.  

The governor’s Special Adviser on Party Affairs and Legislative Matter, Hon Kolawole Babatunde, who is popularly called ‘Ameachi’, was elected as chairman by acclamation.

Recall that Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court, Akure, had on Monday issued an ex parte order restraining INEC and the APC from going ahead with the state congress following an application filed by aggrieved members of the party.

The deputy governor, Olayide Adelami, and all members of the National Assembly from the state with the solitary exception of Rep Jimi Odimayo of Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency did not attend the state congress.

In Delta State, the state APC bigwigs including former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Ned Nwoko, and Rep Eritake Ibori-Suenu stayed away from the venue of the state congress that had Governor Sherriff Oborevwori in attendance.

A consensus arrangement produced Chief Solomon Arenyeka as State Chairman while Elder Moses Iduh and Chief Efe Uko were elected as Deputy Chairman and Secretary respectively.

It was like the case of a landlord becoming a tenant as Omeni Sobotie, who was the state APC Chairman before the governor’s defection to the party, has left his position for Chief Solomon Arenyeka, who was the state PDP Chairman and had joined Oborevwori in leaving the party for APC.

Giving his speech, Governor Oborevwori said the party officials were chosen through a consultative and inclusive arrangement that was devoid of ‘imposition’ while urging party members to prioritize grassroots mobilization and regular meetings ahead of the 2027 General Election.

 ‘There was no imposition. What we witnessed is broad consultation, agreement and inclusiveness. This structure belongs to all of us. Our mission is unequivocal. We must secure victory at every level’ he said.

In his acceptance speech, Chief Solomon Arenyeka pledged loyalty to the governor’s leadership and promised to ensure victory for all APC candidates in 2027.

‘We have heard the marching orders from our leader. By God’s grace, we shall deliver’ he said.

In the State of Harmony, Kwara State, it was a peaceful state congress while party bigwigs also demonstrated unity as they arrived at the venue of the state congress, Arca Santa Event Centre in the same bus.

Giving his speech, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said he has raised the bar of good and impactful governance in the state, citing unprecedented strides in infrastructural renewal, revenue reforms, education and basic healthcare delivery, and social security for the people. 

He also said his administration has modernized infrastructure across sectors, especially road, school and hospitals while his yet-to-be-known successor is expected to further raise the bar.

The governor noted once again, that he is not interested in building any political dynasty as the mission of leaving legacies of a better developed state has been achieved to the glory of God.

‘Congratulations for our journey so far. Congratulations for being able to meet here peacefully and successfully today. I’ll give us a pass mark.

We are in the era of politics. If I may say so myself, I think we’ve done very well, exceedingly well. To the extent that I’ll say, over six years of our tenure have seen greater investments in infrastructure and across very important sectors than what we met. As you can see, opposition has collapsed nationally and especially in Kwara State. But we will not be complacent.

We need to work harder and build on what we have achieved so far’ he said.

Governor Abdulrazaq added that party primaries are always a challenging time for political parties, urging all aspirants to be calm and peaceful while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for achieving greatly across many sectors, and noting that the APC government has a roadmap for a better Nigeria.

‘Yes, there are challenges ahead and those challenges are about healthy competition because the party primaries will soon begin. I call for a healthy competition amongst us especially for those that will succeed. Those that succeed in getting party nominations, we wish them good luck and encourage them to carry along those that do not succeed. It should be one family. 

This party, being led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a party for all. You can see at the national level, governors, structures from other parties are collapsing into APC, because they believe this is the future, this is where we’re going. 

APC is the party that has a roadmap, that has a vision for a better Nigeria. Nationally, you can see that inflation has dropped, exchange rate is stabilising, GDP is improving, growth is improving. So, the president is doing well’ he said.

The governor also noted that Kwara has been repositioned in every aspect on his watch adding that the opposition parties may not have any area to pick their campaigns from. 

‘In terms of opposition, yes, they will make their politics, they will say all kinds of things to the people. But you have seen that since we came in, Kwara has taken a new turn, a turn for the better. So, that’s why I don’t know what the opposition will campaign with.

Is it about infrastructure, or about healthcare, or education? We’ve done exceedingly well. So, we will continue to do better. Like I’ve always said, we’re not here to build a dynasty. We’re here to build a legacy. And I pray for the person who succeeds me to do better than I have done for the good of our people. I have raised the bar; as a team we have raised the bar.

Our successors will raise it further each year and learn. So, I thank our party’s team from Abuja, who have come to coordinate this occasion. I also thank the observers from INEC’ he added.

The state APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, had earlier corroborated the governor’s speech when he told party members that the APC government has built record 586kms of road, hired 8,912 teachers — both highest for any regime in the state since 1999 –, and achieved other milestones such as Nigeria’s lowest child mortality rate, among others.

Prince Sunday Fagbemi and other members of the state exco got a fresh term as they were all elected by acclamation.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt.Hon Salihu Yakubu Danladi; Senators Lola Ashiru (South), Suleiman Sadiq Umar (North), and Saliu Mustapha (Central); Rep Raheem Olawuyi, Rep Mukhtar Tolani Shagaya, Rep Ahmed Shaba; members of the state House of Assembly, two former senators; Suleiman Makanjuola Ajadi and Ahmed Mohammed; former APC Chairman, Hon Bashir Bolarinwa; Professor Raheem Adaramaja, Dr Wasiu Tejidini and other party leaders attended the state congress.

Chairman of the State Congress Committee, Dr. Alkali Alibe also noted that getting the party officials elected by acclamation is in line with the constitution of the party.

‘Kwara State has been consolidating politically under your leadership. People are happy under your stewardship as the Executive Governor of the state and we can see evidence of this where we have visited in every part of the state’ he said.

 In Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru and other members of the state exco have also gotten a fresh term.

They were elected during the state congress of the party held at FIFA Stadium Goru, Birnin Kebbi. on Tuesday.

Governor Nasir Idris noted that getting the ward , local government and state congresses conducted peacefully has reflected maturity and discipline among party members in the state.

A statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yahaya Sarki said Dr Idris also noted that despite the fasting period and the intense heat, delegates conducted themselves with decorum and unity, describing the development as a true reflection of the symbol of the party – the broom – which signifies strength in togetherness.

He thanked party leaders and stakeholders for sustaining unity within the party and acknowledged the vital roles played by past leaders in building a cohesive APC structure in Kebbi State. 

Governor Idris pledged to consolidate on the foundation he inherited and ensure continued harmony in the party.

Congratulating the newly elected party officials, the governor expressed confidence in their capacity, noting that many of them had before now served with distinction.

 He assured party members that the APC-controlled government in Kebbi State belongs to them and urged them to remain united and steadfast.

Governor Idris also appreciated the national and local congress committees for ensuring a transparent and hitch-free exercise.

 He emphasized that Kebbi State remains one of the most peaceful states in the country and assured that the state congress will get recognized as one of the best conducted in the country.

Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, who is Dr Idris’ immediate predecessor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, described the success of the APC State Congress as a testament to Governor Idris’ exemplary leadership. 

He noted that the orderly conduct of the ward, local government, and state congresses have reflected effective ‘stakeholder consultation’ and consensus-building.

The minister commended Governor Idris for strengthening unity within the party and lauded him for playing a proactive role in mobilizing Northern governors and stakeholders in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

The governor’s leadership, he noted, has earned him national recognition and respect.

Chairman of Kebbi State APC Congress Committee, Rt. Hon. Modibbo Bello, expressed appreciation to the governor for fostering collaboration within the party while noting that his inclusive approach was instrumental in reuniting party structures from the ward to the state level.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Sarkin Pawa  Dambo, who supervised the exercise, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the state congress.

 The State APC Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru expressed delight over the orderly and successful conduct of the state congress while restating the commitment and loyalty of the state exco to the governor-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you