AGGRIEVED members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have dragged the leadership of the party to court to challenge the outcome of last Saturday’s congress in the state.
The plaintiffs who are members of The Osun Progressive (TOP) are loyal to a former Governor of the state and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
They held a parallel Congress at Ogo-Oluwa area in Osogbo while the other was held at the Osogbo City Stadium where the Chairman of the party, Prince Adegboyega Famodun was re-elected for a second term.
But yesterday, the group dragged the Chairman of Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Committee of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni and the Chairman of Osun State Ward Congress Committee, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye, to the Federal High Court in Osogbo over the manner the Congress were conducted.
The plaintiffs, Yusuf Asifat Makanjuola and 2,516 others said they paid the stipulated amount and obtained forms to participate in the Congresses of the party but were sidelined by the committee.
The plaintiffs also joined the Osun State chapter of the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Chairman of the Osun State Ward Congress Appeal Committee, Ambassador Obed Wadzani as defendants.
There were parallel APC state congresses in most of the states of the federation on Saturday.
The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has mocked the ruling party for its inability to conduct a free and fair state congress across the country, saying it was a reflection of what the party stood for.
Meanwhile, the immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in Akwa Ibom State, Ita Udosen, has warned those circulating forged names from Saturday’s parallel congresses to desist or be prepared to face the law.
This came after three parallel congresses were held at various locations in the state by supporters of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ita Enang, and the APC National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe.
The faction loyal to Akpabio held its congress at the Kara Event Centre situated along the Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard, Uyo, while Akpanudoedehe’s faction held theirs at the Sheergrace Events Centre, also in Uyo.
But in a statement titled ‘Results of APC State Congress elections,’ Udosen said, “Members who attempt to circulate forged lists of party organs and those found impersonating to confuse the public, will find it hot in the hands of security agents this time.
“In line with the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, I wish to bring to the notice of all APC members and the general public the official results of the state congress Elections conducted through open secret balloting on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Sheergrace Arena, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as announced by the seven-man State Congress Committee from Abuja who conducted the exercise.
“The attendance cuts across all the major shades of opinion in our party and there was no one left in doubt as regards the authenticity of the Congress which was very peaceful.”
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