APC ward congress successful in Oyo – National c’ttee

The national committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on ward congress in Oyo State says the exercise held on Sunday across the 351 wards was peaceful.

The committee’s Chairman, Alhaji Musa Halilu-Ahmed, said this on Monday at a news conference held at the State APC secretariat in Ibadan.

Our correspondent recalls that Halilu-Ahmed had on Friday evening told newsmen that his committee was in Ibadan to conduct an elective congress.

It was also reported that the congress scheduled to hold on Saturday was shifted to Sunday due to violence by suspected hoodlums.

But Halilu-Ahmed said the congress was held across the 351 wards of the state while reports received from the three senatorial districts revealed that the exercise was successful.

“I will like to inform you all, including the media, that every decisions taken during the exercise were in accordance with the guidelines and constitution of the party.

“We also thank God for a successful exercise in spite of intimidation and threats to our lives,’’ he said.

The chairman, however, said that an appeal committee was on ground to address any issue of dissatisfaction from any party or group in respect of the congress.

“In politics, there are winners and losers. But there are some who feel naturally they must have it all and if they can’t, hell must be let loose,” he said.

Halilu-Ahmed also commended security agencies for their efforts at ensuring peace, inspite of initial tension.

Earlier, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, who was at the news conference, had acknowledged the peaceful conduct of the ward congress.

He said that efforts were in top gear to bring aggrieved groups back into the APC fold, adding that the party would remain one big family.

Similarly, Chief Akin Oke, the APC Chairman in the state, said the party would continue to accommodate all interests in the spirit of upholding democratic values.

Our correspondent reports that the APC Appeal Panel on the congress led by Hajia Binta Muazu had arrived in Ibadan on Monday.

Other members of the appeal panel expected to sit for three days in the state are Hon. Nze Duro and Mr Moses Bida.

Muazu told newsmen that the mandate of the panel was to receive results and listen to those who participated in the congress.

She stated that the panel would receive petitions from aggrieved members for investigation.