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Tag: Congress

  • Osun APC: Any parallel congress, a funeral ceremony — Elegbeleye

    Osun APC: Any parallel congress, a funeral ceremony — Elegbeleye

    Mr Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman of the National Committee for Osun Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that any other congress apart from the one held at the Osogbo City Stadium on Saturday was a “mere funeral ceremony“.

    Elegbeleye, while addressing a news conference on Sunday at the party’s secretariat in Osogbo, said the committee was not aware of any parallel congress in the state as being speculated.

    A faction within the party, The Osun Progressives (TOP), loyal to former Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, held a parallel congress on Saturday.

    The Ileri Oluwa Group, loyal to Gov. Gboyega Oyatola, held its congress at the Osogbo City Stadium, where the immediate caretaker chairman of the party, Mr Gboyega Famodun, was re-elected as the party chairman.

    TOP, at a parallel congress, elected the immediate Secretary of the party, Alhaji Rasak Salinsile, as its Chairman.

    Elegbeleye, who described the insinuations of parallel Congress in the state as a fallacy, said on no account could any congress be held outside the knowledge of the committee, as prescribed by the party’s principles and guidelines.

    “I am not aware of any parallel congress anywhere and nobody notify me or any members of my committee of any parallel congress anywhere and what we don’t know, we don’t act on it.

    “As far as we are concerned, there was no congress anywhere else, except the one conducted and supervised by me and other committee members.

    “We came here on Friday to address a stakeholders meeting where we announced the venue of the congress and this was done in the presence of the media.

    “As you all know, we were saddled by the leadership of the party at the National Secretariat to conduct Osun APC Congress.

    “When we arrived, we announced the venue of the congress. So, if anybody goes to the shrine to do another thing, that may probably be a funeral or marriage ceremony, not a congress.

    “The only congress we organised at Osogbo City Stadium is APC congress and so we cannot recognise or assume that there was a congress anywhere”, he said.

    Elegbeleye said the committee had done the needful as expected, having performed the task in the presence of the required electoral empire and other relevant agencies.

    “The congress was successful, hitch-free, fair and credible as envisaged.

    “It was conducted in accordance with the constitution, principles and guidelines of the party as enshrined in Article 20 as read out yesterday”, Elegbeleye said.

    Earlier, the Chairman-elect, Famodun, lauded the committee for being transparent, accountable and for ensuring that the entire process ended well.

    Famodun, who expressed profound gratitude to the loyalists of the party for re-electing him, promised not to let them down.

    “I thank the committee for a job well done and for giving us a wonderful executive through the congress conducted. I want to assure you all on behalf of my team that we will put in our best.

    “I commend the press for doing us proud and for ensuring effective coverage”, Famodun said.

  • State Congress: Delta APC elects officers as faction kicks

    State Congress: Delta APC elects officers as faction kicks

    The nationwide State Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held across the country on Saturday October 16, 2021 has produced new officers for the Delta State chapter of the party to the discomfort of a faction of the party in the State.

    The officers were elected unopposed by affirmation of the accredited delegates from the 25 local government areas in a peaceful and rancour free atmosphere which began at 11:50am through voice votes.

    One-time Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Engr Omeni Sobotie was elected as State Chairman of the party at the Congress which was held at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba.

    Also elected at the congress which was conducted by the Congress committee headed by Senator Ajibola Bashiru, observed by officials of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC were; Chief Paulinus Akpeki as Chairman of the party in Delta Central, Ogbueshi Adizue Eluaka, Chairman, Delta North, Mr Austin Orighoye, Chairman, Delta South, Mr Nick Ovuakporie, State Secretary, Mr Valentine Onojegho, State Publicity Secretary and 30 others.

    Addressing delegates, Bashiru said though the offices were unopposed, paragraph six of the guidelines for the congress provided that there should be affirmative voting, adding that the peaceful conduct of the exercise potends victory for the party in the state in the forthcoming 2023 elections.

    Present at the congress were the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor, Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, Revd Francis Waive representing Udu/Ughelli constituency at the House of Representatives, among others.

    Speaking to newsmen shortly after the congress, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, said: “the Congress is very peaceful; members conducted themselves in a very good manner”, saying that; ” the new executive will embark on reconciliation exercise with a view to placating all agrieved members”.

    Omo-Agege expressed optimism that the party would secure victory in the 2023 elections, congratulating all those elected as State officials of the party in the state.

    The newly elected State Chairman of the party, Engr Omeni Sobotie, thanked the party and the delegates for giving him the opportunity to serve.

    Sobotie assured that he would not betray the confidence reposed on him, assuring that the party was set for victory in the 2023 general electons in Delta.

    However, the Congress did not go down well, as the Leaders’ Council of a faction of the party in the State has charged their followers to remain focused and steadfast in the face of any provocation.

    The council in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, also assured members of the APC in Delta that they would be redeemed and rescued from the hands of those who want to trade with the party’s future.

    The statement was jointly signed by Mr Festus Keyamo, Chairman of the council and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr Alex Ideh its Co-Chairman, and Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Secretary of the council.

    Others are Chief Great Ogboru, 2019 Delta APC Governorship Candidate, Victor Ochei, former Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Dr Mariam Ali, and George Timinimi,Leader Ijaw Nation and 12 others.

    “We enjoin all APC faithful across Delta to remain focused and steadfast.

    “We assure them that the party will be redeemed and rescued from the hands of those who want to trade what we all suffered to build for their selfish ends.

    “The leaders and executives of the party in Delta would be calling general meetings of all APC faithful across the three Senatorial Districts of the state to reassure you that we are ready to take over Delta from PDP come 2023,” it said.

    The council, however, said it was not part of the party’s State Congresses, saying it was a sham that should not be recognised or accepted.

    “We are calling on the national leadership of the party to cancel and declare that sham they call congress, null and void.

    “We stand on the initial position of the party, and present the original concensus Ward to State Executive list as directed by the leadership of the party.

    “This was put together by the leaders and stakeholders of the party from across all tendencies and factions within the party here in Delta.

    “We would not recognise any other executive other than the consensus executives put together by the leaders and stakeholders, which have been affirmed as the Wards, Local Government Areas and State Executives by all APC faithful across the state,” it said.

    It explained that along with majority of the State Executive Committee members, a resolution was reached on consensus executive list from Wards, Local Government Areas and the state executives.

    It added that the agreement was executed in line with the APC National Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) directives.

    It said the concensus list was put together and presented to the party as agreed and should be honoured.

    Recall that the leadership of the CECPC inaugurated the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun South-South Reconciliation Committee to reconcile all aggrieved parties within the South-South States, which included Delta.

    The committee met severally and proffered solutions to the leadership crisis in Delta APC, by setting up a Delta Leaders’ Council comprising of 12 members, with four from each Senatorial District of the state.

  • APC conducts peaceful State congress in Bayelsa

    APC conducts peaceful State congress in Bayelsa

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State Chapter, Saturday conducted a peaceful state Congress to elect its 36 State Executive Committee (SEC) members.

    The congress, which was held at the state party secretariat located along Mbiama/Yenagoa Road, witnessed the presence of major stakeholders led by the Senator Biobarakuma Degi- Eremienyo, two members of Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Isreal Sunny-Goli and Hon. Preye Influence Oseke.

    The Leader of the Party in the State and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, was however absent but his political machine held sway.

    At the end of the execricise, Chief Dennis Otiotio, a doctorate holder in Law, emerged State Chairman with Hon Ebipadei Fekoweimo, a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, as State Secretary. Media and Political Strategist, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, was returned as State Publicity Secretary.

    The Chairman of the 7-man State Congress Committee, DCP Yusuf Aurelius Adejo (rtd), described the election as peaceful and a family affair.

    Also speaking, the member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, Hon. Preye Oseke, commended the conduct of the exercise, predicting that the emergence of Otiotio as Chairman will lead to a new dawn for the APC in Bayelsa.

    The full list of the newly elected APC Bayelsa State Executive Committee is as follows:

    1: Chief Dennis Otiotio – Chairman.

    2: Hon. Francis Kolokolo – Deputy Chairman.

    3: Hon. ThankGod Deizigha – Vice Chairman (Central).

    4: Hon. George Otto – Vice Chairman (West).

    5: Hon. Martins Alabo – Vice Chairman (East).

    6: Hon. Ebipadei Fekoweimo – Secretary.

    7: Hon. Nerius Owutuomo – Assistant Secretary.

    8: Hon. Preye Agama – Youth Leader.

    9: Hon. Doumo Isaac – Deputy Youth Leader.

    10: Hon. Ebizimor Romeo – Bayelsa West Youth Leader.

    11: Hon. Donny Sigah – Bayelsa Central Youth Leader.

    12: Hon. Eriaye Gift Jasper – Bayelsa East Youth Leader.

    13: Mrs Ebiere Akpobasa – Woman Leader.

    14: Mrs Pamela Douglas – Assistant Woman Leader.

    15: Mrs Seikemefa Akamu – Bayelsa West Woman Leader.

    16: Mrs Ikadoi Francis – Bayelsa East Woman Leader.

    17: Mrs Isowei Leigha – Bayelsa Central Woman Leader.

    18: Hon. Ogisaman Orubo – Financial Secretary.

    19: Hon. Abosi Felegha – Assistant Financial Secretary.

    20: Hon. Doifie Buokoribo – Publicity Secretary.

    21: Mr. Tamaratare Tamaratare Otis Zuokumor – Assistant Publicity Secretary.

    22: Hon. Ebimene Emmanuel – Treasurer.

    23: Hon. Lawrence Yongosi – Assistant Treasurer.

    24: Prince Tokpo Coronation – Organising Secretary.

    25: Hon. Bedford Woyengilayefa – Assistant Organising Secretary.

    26: Barr Bipeledei Efieseimokumor – Legal Adviser.

    27: Barr Doumo Ogbomani – Assistant Legal Adviser.

    28: Hon. Ebikinei Tekerebo – Auditor.

    29: Hon. Sinime Benjamin – Assistant Auditor.

    30: Hon. Abi Morris – Welfare Secretary.

    31: Hon. Jacob Jonah – Assistant Welfare Secretary.

    32: Comr. Austin B Jonah – Physically Challenged.

    33: Ikisikpo Marcus – Ex-Officio I.

    34: Awini Gerenkeme – Ex-Officio II.

    35: Humphrey Highlife – Ex-Officio III.

    36: Suoyo Amaran – Ex-Officio IV.

  • Any parallel APC congress in Lagos mere naming ceremony —Sanwo-Olu

    Any parallel APC congress in Lagos mere naming ceremony —Sanwo-Olu

    The Governor of Lagos State, Mr, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has dismissed parallel congresses of the All Progressives Congress allegedly held by some elements as “mere naming ceremonies.”

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile, disclosed this in a statement after the congress on Saturday which produced Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi as state chairman of the APC.

    According to Akosile, Sanwo-Olu said the authentic congress was the one attended by card-carrying members of the party at the venue announced by the State Congress Committee and supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the party’s national executive committee.

    The Governor described the process as “simply decisive, non-controversial,” expressing his confidence in the new team that will be steering the party’s affairs in Lagos.

    He said Ojelabi possessed a brilliant resume as a loyal APC chieftain, noting that the new team would work to deepen the party’s stronghold in the state.

    Akosile quoted Sanwo-Olu as saying, “We have come to the end of the state congress. All party members are happy with the peaceful conduct of the process and the outcome. I’m certain that the leadership that emerges from this exercise is a round peg in a hole. The man (Ojelabi) that will be leading the team has a brilliant resume as a trusted hand, at the National Assembly level, State Executive Council level, political and community leadership level. He has over 20 years of political experience.”

    He added that the new chairman had the mandate to reach out to aggrieved party members and bring them back to the fold.

    On his part, Ojelabi praised the Governor for a hitch-free congress, noting that the peaceful conduct of the election manifested good leadership ingrained in the party by the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    He also thanked the past caretaker committee members for their service, especially their effort to grow the party membership and its reach

  • PDP secretary alleges hijack of congress materials in Borno

    PDP secretary alleges hijack of congress materials in Borno

    The Borno Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that materials meant for Saturday’s congress of the party have been hijacked by a group.

    Alhaji Yusuf Dikko, the state PDP secretary, disclosed this when he spoke with newsmen in Maiduguri, adding that a complaint has been sent to the party’s zonal and national headquarters on the matter.

    Dikko blamed the problem on the former governorship candidate of the party, Alhaji Mohammed Imam and the immediate past state PDP chairman, Alhaji Zannah Gaddama.
    “We have forwarded complaints to the zonal and national headquarters of the party and are still waiting for response,” he said.
    Dikko said that he was aware that some members were bent on destroying the party in the state.
    “Since our inauguration we have received series of complaints from wards and local government on the activities of those people who wanted to destroy the party for their selfish interest like they did in 2019 general elections,” he said.
    Reacting, Gaddama, faulted the claim, saying that the PDP ward congress would hold on Saturday as scheduled across the state.
    He said that the materials were not hijacked as they were received from national headquartres.
    “Those forms are on sale and we went and purchased them. If they claim that we hijacked them, the national secretariat is there, security agencies are also there, why don’t they report us to them.
    “All we know is that ward congress will hold on Sept. 25, while local government congress will take place on Oct.5. The state congress is slated for Oct.16,” Gaddama said

  • PDP Congress: Party members mobilise against Makinde in Oyo

    PDP Congress: Party members mobilise against Makinde in Oyo

    Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congress scheduled to begin on Saturday, some aggrieved members of the party in Oyo State have commenced mobilisation against Gov. Seyi Makinde.

    The aggrieved party members from the 33 local government area at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Ibadan on Monday, passed a vote of no confidence on the governor, urging him to resign from the party.

    The governor and the aggrieved members had been at loggerheads since inception of the administration over allegations of neglect.

    Among those in attendance were Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, Mogaji Nureni Akanbi, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan, Chief Gbolarumi Hazeem and Mr Femi Babalola.

    “Against the governor’s promise before and during the election, we have been neglected. Those who were not around during the election are the ones benefiting from government.

    “We have accepted what has befallen us. We are prepared for the congress to ensure the party return to the people,” Akande-Adeola said.

    The aggrieved members who expressed their displeasure, promised to ensure that the party returned to the people after the congress.

    Akande-Adeola, a former leader of the House of Representatives, urged the party members not to engage in any violence or fight anyone, but mobilise for the congress.

    “Go to your wards, mobilise your people. Don’t fight anybody. Record whatever happens and leave us to do the remaining in Abuja, “ she urged the participants.

    Also, the PDP chieftain said that never again would they entrust their destinies in the hands of someone like the incumbent governor.

    They also vowed to ensure they do everything to prevent Makinde from picking the party’s ticket for a second term.

    But, Mr Akeem Olatunji, the state PDP spokesman, said that those calling for Makinde’s resignation are the enemies of the party.

    He alleged that the aggrieved PDP members were working for the opposition.

    “No real member of the PDP in the state will ask the governor to resign because he is the heart and soul of PDP in Oyo State.

    “95 percent of our members are with Makinde. If those aggrieved are popular, let them prepare for the congress which is coming up on Saturday,’’ he said.

  • Abia APC holds parallel congresses

    Abia APC holds parallel congresses

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday organised parallel ward congresses in Abia, as leadership crisis continues to rock the party.

    The congresses came barely two days after the party re-affirmed the suspension of its chieftain, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

    Emenike is the leader of a faction of the party, challenging the Donatus Nwankpa-led Executive Committee (EXCO).

    The EXCO at its expanded caucus meeting on Thursday announced Emenike’s suspension for alleged party misconduct.

    The development, however, did not deter Emenike’s camp, as it went ahead to conduct its congresses, supervised by the National Ward Congresses Committee.

    Briefing newsmen on the situation at the state Secretariat of the party in Umuahia, the Chairman, APC Caretaker Committee in the state, Chief Donatus Nwankpa, said the party declared the committee members wanted.

    He said the committee members failed to report to the party secretariat in Umuahia upon their arrival in the state.
    Nwankpa said the party set up screening and appeal committees for the congress, in line with the party Constitution.

    He said that his EXCO had also taken delivery of all congress documents from its national secretariat.

    “The party duly took custody of them, signed them and members, who paid to the national account, not state account, were given forms.

    “And by the party regulation, after the sale of forms, the state party chairman is to set up a screening and appeal committee on screening.

    “Those forms were duly handed over to the two committees at various locations.

    “They have come back and we have screened candidates for the congresses.
    “Unfortunately for us, the people who are supposed to receive the document from the screening committee did not appear.

    “We are not unaware of some clandestine meetings going on among those claiming to be stakeholders,” Nwankpa said.

    A chieftain of the party, Sen. Chris Adighije, who expressed disappointment over the development, described the committee members as “impostors”.

    “If they had come from our national office in Abuja, I’m sure they would have come to the secretariat of the party in Abia.

    “Our communication with the Independent National Electoral Commission is through the same address in Umuahia.

    “And the communication with the national headquarters is with the state chairman of the party,” Adighije said.

    He said the party followed due process to suspend Emenike, adding that “he stands suspended”.

    He expressed happiness over the peaceful conduct of the congress in his ward at Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area (LGA).

    Also, a former lawmaker in the state, Chief Chidi Nwosu, said the exercise went peacefully in his Amakama Ward also in Umuahia south.

    Nwosu said that candidates emerged through consensus in his ward, adding that offices were distributed to accommodate the interest of all the various segments that make up the ward.

    A similar consensus apprroach was adopted in the selection of candidates in most of the wards visited.
    In a related development, the APC ward congresses in Nsukka LGA of Enugu were quite peaceful.

    It was learnt that materials for the exercise arrived in various wards in time, adding that those presiding over the congresses also followed due process and laid down rules.

    At Ihe Ward, a party chieftain and former Supervisor of Youths and Sports in the area, Mr Anthony Ozioko, said the exercise was smooth and hitch-free.

    Ozioko said that party faithful conducted themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner, adding that only accredited party members were allowed to vote.

    “I commend party stakeholders in Nsukka for the arrangement put in place that made the ward congresses peaceful.

    The situation was the same at Opi, Obukpa, Aloruno and Edem wards.
    At Obimo Ward, the party’s Caretaker Chairman in Nsukka LGA, Chief Joseph Ugwuoke, described the exercise as volence-free.

    Ugwuoke attributed the development to good arrangement put in place by stakeholders, which gave all the party chieftains a sense of belonging.

    He advised ward executives that would emerge to ensure they carried all party members along in all the party’s programmes and activities.

  • APC snubs Festus Keyamo’s warning, insists no change of leadership, nationwide congresses will hold as scheduled

    APC snubs Festus Keyamo’s warning, insists no change of leadership, nationwide congresses will hold as scheduled

    The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, has disclosed that the nationwide ward congress to elect party executives will still hold as scheduled on July 31, 2021.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo (SAN) had in a statement on Wednesday urged the party to shelve its planned congresses and national convention to avoid a ‘top to bottom’ destruction from the judiciary.

    Keyamo was reacting to the Supreme Court judgement of Wednesday, July 28, 2021 that narrowly upheld the election of the incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu in a suit filed by candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his major opponent in the 2020 governorship election in the state, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).

    The senior advocate, who said he was offering his “professional bit to the party,” explained that: “The little technical point that saved Governor Akeredolu was that Jegede failed to join Mai Mala Buni in the suit.”

    He added: “Jegede was challenging the competence of Buni as a sitting governor to run the affairs of the APC as chairman of the caretaker committee. He contends that this is against Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that a sitting governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever. In other words, had Buni been joined in the suit, the story may have been different today as we would have lost Ondo State to the PDP.”

    He then warned: “Any other person affected by the actions of the Buni-led Committee will henceforth, not fail to join him in any subsequent case in court. These include any subsequent election matter in any part of this country and all the APC congresses that are about to hold. The Supreme Court has just weaponised all those that would be aggrieved by the APC Congresses to proceed to court to challenge the competence of the Buni-led CECPC to organise the Congresses and national convention.”

    Keyamo said the APC should terminate the plans to hold its ward congresses on Saturday.

    However, in a statement by the National Secretary of the party’s caretaker committee, Sen. Akpanudoedehe, ward Congress Committees of the Party has already been inaugurated and delegated with the responsibility of conducting, supervising, monitoring the scheduled Ward Congresses.

    He said the clarification is against the backdrop of personal opinions being expressed by some individuals on the status of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and its capacity to conduct the Congresses.

    “While it is not our intention to join issues with these commentators, the Supreme Court’s Wednesday judgement affirming the Election victory of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) had no bearing on the CECPC’s status and its membership.

    “Party members and aspirants should therefore come out en masse and peacefully to participate in the ward Congresses, come Saturday”, he added.

  • At last, APC Releases Timetable, Guidelines for July 31 Ward Congresses

    At last, APC Releases Timetable, Guidelines for July 31 Ward Congresses

    At last, the All Progressives Congress (APC) after a series of postponment has released the approved schedule of activities and guidelines for the conduct of the Party’s nationwide Ward congresses scheduled for Saturday July 31, 2021.
    According to the notice signed by the National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, purchase of nomination forms for Ward, Local Government/Area Councils and State Congresses will take place from 19th July to 28th August, 2021.
    Screening of Aspirants for the Ward Party positions is scheduled for July 29th to 30th July, 2021. Ward Congresses will hold 31st July, 2021. Appeals Arising from Ward Congresses will hold August 2nd to 7th August, 2021.
    The notice reads in parts:
    In line with Article 11:A sub-section (i-xiii) and article 16(i) of the Party’s Constitution (as Amended), the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be organising its congresses across the 36 states and FCT to elect its Wards, Local Governments and States Officials. Only Wards and Local Government Areas stipulated in Sections 156 of the Electoral Act and in part I&II of the First Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as Amended) are recongised.
    The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the Party, in a bid to ensure open, credible and fair congresses that reflect the sanctity of internal democracy in the Party, issues a guiding regulation for the nationwide congresses of the Party. It is binding on all persons coordinating and participating in all Congresses.
    WARD CONGRESS COMMITTEE (WCC)
    Each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) shall for the purpose of the Party’s 2021 congresses have a committee of 7 persons who are to be selected based on their proven integrity. They shall be appointed and supervised by the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC). This committee shall be referred to as the Ward Congress Committee (WCC). The members of the committees will be posted to places outside their states of recruitment. It shall be composed of a Chairman, Secretary and 5 other members, One (1) of whom shall be a woman (where possible). The committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the Ward congress exercise in their place of posting.
    The Ward Congress Committee (WCC) shall appoint 3 persons from any other part of the State other than the Ward in which they will serve (to be referred as Local Ward Congress Committee (LWCC). Who shall be responsible for the conduct of the Screening/Congress in their assigned Ward under the directives/supervision of the WCC. The WCC shall ensure that the exercise is all-inclusive
    APPEALS COMMITTEE
    There shall be an appeal committee for the Wards. Each state and FCT shall have a 5-member Ward Congress Appeals Committee whose members are recruited from outside their states of origin by the CECPC. They shall be responsible for the hearing of appeals arising from the Ward Congresses.
    VENUE (Ward Congresses)
    The election venue shall be the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward offices where they exist. Where none exists, or the existing one for any reason, becomes unsuitable, the Ward Congress Committee (WCC) shall identify a convenient and conducive venue for the congress (provided it is not a private residence or place of worship or office). The general public must be notified of the venue at least 12 hours before the commencement of the congresses.
    COMPOSITION OF CONGRESSES
    The Ward congress shall consist of all registered members of the party in the ward. All newly registered members from the updated 2021 Party Membership Register are eligible to participate in the Ward Congress.
    BUSINESS OF THE CONGRESSES
    The Ward Congress shall carry out the election of;
    Ward Chairman
    Ward Vice Chairman
    Ward Secretary
    Ward Assistant Secretary
    Ward Legal Adviser
    Ward Assistant Legal Adviser
    Ward Treasurer
    Ward Assistant Treasurer
    Ward Financial Secretary
    Ward Assistant Financial Secretary
    Ward Organising Secretary
    Ward Assistant Organising Secretary
    Ward Publicity Secretary
    Ward Assistant Publicity Secretary
    Ward Welfare Secretary
    Ward Assistant Welfare Secretary
    Ward Women Leader
    Ward Assistant Women Leader
    Ward Youth Leader
    Ward Assistant Youth Leader
    Special (Physically Challenged) Leader (the position must be occupied by such a person as described)
    Ward Auditor
    Ward Assistant Auditor
    Four Ex-Officio Members elected at Ward Congress (one of whom shall be a woman, where possible)
    Five (5) Local Government Area Congress Delegates one of whom shall be a Woman (where possible).
    Five (5) State Congress Delegates one of whom shall be at least a Ward Chairman and a Woman (where possible).
    NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR PARTY POSITIONS
    Aspirants to party positions in the Wards will be elected at the various Congresses and must be persons with the highest degree of good Character, Competence, and Capacity. They shall pay the specified fees for the party nomination form.
    SALE OF FORMS (Wards)
    Aspirants for the position of Ward Chairman will purchase forms at the cost of N10, 000. Forms for Ward Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer positions cost N5,000. Other offices cost N2,000. All delegates will pay N1,000 for the form.
    WARD LEVEL NOMINATION OF ASPIRANTS FOR PARTY ELECTIONS
    (Chairmanship Aspirants shall require 1 sponsor per Polling unit within the Ward, while other positions shall require 1 sponsor from at least half of the Polling Units within the Ward)
    All Female Aspirants shall pay 50% of the prescribed fees for each position.
    Persons with disability shall pay 50% of the prescribed fees for each position.
    All payments for purchase of Nomination Forms shall be made directly into All Progressives Congress accredited banks.
    Following the purchase, the completed forms must be returned at least three working days before the conduct of the election.
    MODE OF ELECTIONS AT THE CONGRESSES
    a. Consensus
    All Party positions prescribed or implied by the Party’s Constitution as above stated for the congresses shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective congresses. However, for peace and harmony, the party encourages emergence of candidates through consensus in the first instance; provided that where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of “Yes” or “No” by ballot or voice shall be called.
    b. Election
    Utmost transparency is required in all elections. Therefore, in all respects, votes must be counted and results announced and recorded on the spot.
    In the event of a tie in any ballot, the election for that particular office shall be repeated for the tying candidates until a winner emerges. The winner of an election shall be determined by a simple majority of total votes cast and declared winner in an open view.
    Ward Congress Mode of Election;
    After membership accreditation, elections at ward level shall be by open ballot. Accredited party voters shall queue behind the candidate of their choice or his/her picture or poster.
    *Congresses Special Provisions*
    The Ward Party Registers/Membership Registration Forms shall serve as the Voter Register, while the Registration slip serves as the Voter’s card in each voting precinct (Ward).
    Aspirants contesting for any post in the party must have INEC Voters Card.
    In addition to waivers granted to officers seeking re-election, Waiver is hereby granted to persons who joined the party recently to vote and be voted for, provided that their names are in the Ward Registers.
    Accreditation of intending party voters for all congresses shall be conducted and approved by the respective National Congress Committees at all levels.
    The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) reserves the right to cancel any election in areas where there are irregularities or violence in the conduct of election.
    The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) is the final appeal authority in all election disputes.
    Any aspirant that is indicted of any irregularity, violence or electoral malpractice shall, subject to a fair hearing, be either suspended or expelled from the party and shall forfeit his/her right to participate in any future elections of the party for any position.
    The WCC shall respectively display/announce the names of candidates vying for party positions in Wards congresses and the positions they are vying for before the conduct of the election.
    The National Executive Ccommittee (NEC) has granted waivers to new Members ( those who applied for such ) and also to all Officers at Ward, Local Government and State levels in line with the provision of Article 13 (4) xv, provided that no officer elected in this exercise shall serve in the same capacity beyond the maximum term prescribed in Article 17 I & ii of the APC Constitution (as Amended) a member who started or continued with litigation against the Party after the directives of NEC is not eligible to vote or be voted for in the respective congresses. Without prejudice to these guidelines, all aspirants with valid court Judgement(s) with respect to previous forms purchase are eligible to participate in the exercise .
    All persons vying for the position of youth leader must be persons aged between 18-35years.
    All Aspirants must show evidence of financial membership of the Party.
  • PDP constitutes committee for Akwa-Ibom State special congress

    PDP constitutes committee for Akwa-Ibom State special congress

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday constituted Akwa Ibom Special State Congress committee which will elect the State party Chairman.

    This was disclosed in a statement, issued by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), in Abuja.

    Akobundu said that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) approved the appointment of Edmond Mark as Chairman and Mr Christian Ibelachi as secretary of the committee.

    Other members of the committee are Sir John Ngbede, Mrs Helen Adebakin and Hon Ben Olorunfemi.

    He noted that the Congress is scheduled to commence work on Wednesday, June 30, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.