The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State on Saturday returned 35 members of State Executive Committee unopposed.
The new Executive Committee members had been picked through a consensus arrangement which had started from Ward, Local Congresses and ended at the State Congress of the party.
Salihu Hussein, the Chairman APC Congress Committee, who supervised the exercise, expressed delight over the arrangement, saying it had made his members’ job easy although voting was still held.
“We received return forms from 35 candidates with no opposition but we will still go ahead with voting for affirmation,” he said.
Hussein had on Friday night disclosed that the APC Congress Committee was not aware of any faction of the party in the State as he described the APC as one big family in kwara.
He debunked every insinuation of a parallel congress by any aggrieved party member in the state, saying that the party is doing well in the state and at the federal level.
While calling on aggrieved ones to come up with their issues, he promised to look into complaints by party members towards sustaining admirable leadership and governances being championed by the party in the state.
The congress committee chairman, however, expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the party’ s leaders were handling the affairs of the party.
Hussein also reiterated that committee will ensure strict adherence to the guidelines of the party on the conduct of party congress, adding that the congress will be credible and transparent.
“The congress committee has made provisions for all congress materials needed for the conduct of the congress. We have also made other provisions and arrangements to ensure hitch-free congress”.
Speaking at the event, the senate president, Bukola Saraki, commended party members and organizers for efficient and peaceful conducts.
He said, “This is the third stage of the journey that started with ward Congress which was adjudged as the best in Nigeria. In Kwara State, we don’t have problems of people fighting themselves and that is while you can see two former governors sitting together to participate in an electoral process with the incumbent.”
He charged the youths who have been elected into executive offices at the ward levels to prove their mettle in the coming general elections.
The exercise which took place inside the state Banquet Hall was witnessed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, all members of the National Assembly from the state, Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, as well as Deputy Governor, Elder Peter Kisira and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Ali Ahmad. Also in attendance was National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi and Kawu Baraje and representatives of the INEC from Abuja and Kwara.
Speaking after the election, Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed who congratulated the newly elected officials charged them to immediately prepare for the next general election.
He promised to consolidate on the achievements of the party in leading the state to an enviable heights and guarantee electoral victory for the party in 2019
In a vote of thanks, National Publicity Secretary, APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, insisted that the party would only recognise congresses conducted by Congress Committees put in place by the national body.
The elected officers include; Ishola Balogun Fulani, State Chairman, Christopher Tunji Ayeni, Secretary; Buhari Sulaiman, Publicity Secretary and Hajiya Rahmat Oganija, Women Leader.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
