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Ward Congress: Osun APC Divided, ‘Oyetola’s Group Boycotts Direct Primary Option,’ Scribe Alleges

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Our Reporter, Osogbo

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State and the party’s state Caretaker Secretary, Alhaji Razak Salinsile, has said despite the enthusiasm showed by the party members to elect ward executives at Saturday’s ward congress, a group loyal to Governor Gboyega Oyetola boycotted the exercise.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, Alhaji Razak Salinsil, said the party members in their numbers came out to elect those to steer the affairs of the party at the ward level inspite some shortcomings that marred the election.

The party Secretary also disclosed that shooting, intimidation were also recorded in some centres during the exercise.

READ ALSO: Ward Congress: Osun APC Elect Consensus Ward Leaders, Aregbesola Loyalists Kick

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“The exercise was a success but regrettably a faction of the party in the state, the Ilerioluwa Political Group loyal to Governor Gboyega Oyetola largely boycotted the direct primaries mode of electing ward party executives we adopted.”

The APC state scribe alleged that: “in some parts of Osogbo, Ilerioluwa members read out a list of executives handed to them from the Government House, however in Egbedore local government, attempts to read such list was rebuffed. The group members later retired to the house of their leader, Baba Ajao to affirm its executives there.

“The congress was peaceful in Ward 9, Ilesa East Local Government, Wards 2, 7 and 11 in Erin Osun in Irepodun Local Government, Wards 2 and 4 in Ejigbo Local Government and Ward 8, Isokan Local Government where direct primary election were held.

“Though members of the Osun State National Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward Congress have applauded the peaceful conduct of the exercise in the entire state, the exercise witnessed one or two skirmishes around the state,” he said.

READ ALSO: Ward Congress: Osun APC Elect Consensus Ward Leaders, Aregbesola Loyalists Kick

The APC chieftain further revealed that, “a Special Adviser to the (name withheld) invaded the voting arena at Ward 4, Olorunda Local Government with heavily armed Amotekun Militia and attempted to read a list of Ward Executives, but majority of the party members present demanded they want to vote for their candidates. Subsequently, the Amotekun Militia started shooting to dispatch party members who had rejected what they called imposition.

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“The congress was however disrupted in Ward 4 in Osogbo Local Government where thugs took over the collation centre. The process was also disrupted at Union Baptist Primary School, Odi-Olowo, Osogbo but the congress later held at the ward under the supervision of the Police.”

He also confirmed that in Ejigbo Local Government area of the sttate the exercise was conducted freely in all the Wards.

READ ALSO: Ward Congress: Protest Hits Osun APC, Gov, Party Chair Accused Of Alleged Hijacking Of Forms

“Our members came out en-mass and prepared for an election, but none of the contestant on the other side showed up. Subsequently, the contestant for the different positions were affirmed by those present,” the APC chieftain said.

He, however, expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the exercise he described as “peaceful.”

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INEC Disowns LP’s National Convention

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has disowned Wednesday’s Labour Party‘s national convention held in Anambra.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said this in Abuja on Thursday.

Oyekanmi said that the conduct of the convention was not monitored by INEC, declining to state further why it was not monitored.

The LP had on Tuesday shifted the national convention from Umuahia in Abia to Nnewi, Anambra State.

Speaking on the venue change, the LP National Legal Adviser, Mr Kehinde Edun, told newsmen that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date.

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READ ALSO: [BREAKING] Edo Guber: Labour Party Aspirant Withdraws From Race, Cites Monetisation 

No, it is holding in Anambra. Nnewi, to be precise, not Umuahia in Abia State again. In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.

“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time,” Edun said.

Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days’ notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.

This includes the convention or meeting convened for “merger” and electing members of its executive committees and other governing bodies or nominating candidates.

(NAN)

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Labour Party Reserves 2027 Presidential Ticket For Peter Obi

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…Oti Gets automatic ticket for Abia Guber

The Labour Party’s highest decision making body, the National Convention, has announced it has reserved its 2027 ticket for the party’s leader, Mr. Peter Obi.

In the same breath, the party also announced a right of first refusal for the Abia State Governor, Alex Oti, should he decide to seek reelection on the party’s platform.

This decision was contained in a Communique issued after the party’s National Convention, held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.

It was signed by the re-elected National Chairman of the party, Comrade Julius Abure, and National Secretary, Umar Faruk Ibrahim.

READ ALSO: Abure Re-elected Labour Party National Chairman; NLC Kicks

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The communique read in part: “The Convention in session based on the antecedents of the Presidential candidate before, during and after the 2023 General Election recommend that the 2027 Presidential ticket of the party be solely reserved for His Excellency, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, the National leader of the party.

“Furthermore, the Convention in session reviewed ongoing development and performance of its Governor in Abia state, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti and pass a vote of confidence on him and recommend the 2027 Abia state Gubernatorial ticket of the party be reserved for His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti.”

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Edo Guber: 17 Parties Beat INEC Deadline For Candidates’ Nomination

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Seventeen out of 18 political parties who conducted primaries for the forthcoming Edo State Governorship Election have beaten the deadline for the nomination of their candidates on the special portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja.

He said, “Following the conclusion of party primaries, 27 political parties have uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms for the Edo State Governorship Election by the deadline of 6 p.m. on March 24, 2024, when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.”

According to him, the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates will be published on Saturday, March 30, 2024, a week from the last date for the submission of nominations as provided in Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

READ ALSO: Edo 2024: Igbinedion Breaks Silence On Obaseki’s Handling Of PDP, Party’s Choice Of Running Mate

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The Commission shall publish the personal particulars by displaying copies of Form EC9 along with all academic credentials and other documents submitted by each candidate at the state headquarters and the 18 local government offices across Edo State.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The Edo State Governorship Election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 21, 2024,” he stated.

 

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