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.
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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.
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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.
“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.
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“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.”