By Emmanuel Kehinde in Ilorin.
Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) local government congress held across the state on Saturday amid fanfare as party delegates trooped out to elect the new executives at the local government level.
Our Correspondent that covered the exercise reports that party delegates peacefully elected new leaders through affirmation of consensus list earlier agreed to by all the stakeholders.
The online publication also reports that the congress was held across the state under peaceful atmosphere and close supervision by the APC team from the national secretariat, Abuja and INEC officials deployed for the exercise.
Some of the newly elected APC local government chairmen include: Sulaiman Tejidini (Ilorin West);
Shehu Yahya (Asa); Ambali Hakeem-Jaji is (Ilorin South); Lawal Habeeb (Ilorin East) and Olumide Ibitoye (Irepodun).
Reports from Baruten, Irepodun, Ekiti, Isin, Ifelodun, Patigi, Edu, Moro, Kaiama, and Offa, among others indicated that the exercise was also hitch-free and without untoward incidents as party delegates affirmed their consensus list.
An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Muhammad Kabir, who monitored the exercise in Ilorin, the state capital, described the exercise as peaceful.
“I am really impressed with the conduct of the exercise in this local government. We are going round to see for ourselves. It is very peaceful,” Kabir disclosed.
In his reaction, the state chairman APC caretaker committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, expressed delight that the process was peaceful and orderly throughout the state.
“So far, so good, the reports I have indicate that congress went on well in all the 16 local government areas. The congress was conducted peacefully. It was consensus all through,” Samari said.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Alhaji Abdullateef Alakawa,urged party members to continue to work together, support the vision of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and work as members of the same family, irrespective of their differences.
“Today is just another festival day for us in Kwara APC. The local government congress is a celebration of our leader, His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his achievements in the areas of cohesion and cementing relationships.
” That is what we saw everywhere today which culminated into consensus arrangement in the congresses everywhere. It is been peaceful and orderly through consensus arrangement in line with the leadership provided by the governor,” Alakawa said.
“Consensus by the APC arrangement is constitutional. It is one of the options approved by the guidelines of the party. It is all about negotiation and consensus building.
“APC believes in deepening democracy and everybody should have their say.
“This projects oneness of family, unity of purpose and direction.
“As we go to 2023, what consensus says to you is that the party is strong, the party is united, the party is focused and cohesive to win elections.”
Also speaking, shortly after the congress, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Strategy, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau also applauded the consensus arrangement which produced new leaders at the local government level.
“In line with the unanimous resolution of all APC stakeholders in the state, the directive of our leader, His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the National Caretaker Committee of APC, we resolved that the election of the executives of the party would be based on consensus arrangement.
” That was exactly what we have done in all the 16 local government areas of the state. So, what we did today was to publicly affirm those elected on the basis of consensus. I can confirm that the process at which the congress was concluded has been peaceful, hitch-free and we are so delighted with the process,” Salau added.
