The crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has worsened as the two factions of the party have inaugurated parallel ward executives across the 236 wards in the state.
The faction led by Governor Dapo Abiodun had last Thursday evening inaugurated its ward executives, while the other faction led by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun inaugurated its wards executives yesterday morning in Abeokuta.
The two factions had on Saturday, July 31, 2021, conducted parallel ward congresses.
Two serving senators, Lekan Mustapha (Ogun East) and Tolu Odebiyi (Ogun West) loyal to Amosun had filed petitions against the ward congress before the five-man Appeal Panel set up by the national body of the party to resolve all issues surrounding the exercise.
However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) reportedly ratified and adopted the results of the ward congress conducted by the governor’s faction.
Accordingly, the CECPC approved the immediate inauguration of ward executives by the state caretaker committee.
In compliance with the directive, the Abiodun-backed ward executives took their oath of office at the Mitros Hall, Abeokuta, last Thursday, which was administered on them by the party’s lawyer, Abeeb Ajayi.
Addressing them after the inauguration, the state Caretaker Committee chairman, Yemi Sanusi, urged them to run an inclusive administration at their respective wards.
Sanusi said the door of the party was wide and open to receive as many people as desirous of joining the progressives train, adding that unity and peace should be pursued at all times to ensure the continued success of the party.
He also charged them to shun pride, divisive tendencies, and one-man show, saying such attitudes breed only disagreement and faction, which would not be tolerated.
But less than 24 hours after the inauguration of the Abiodun-backed ward executives, Amosun’s loyalists stormed his constituency office located at Leme, Abeokuta, and inaugurated the faction’s ward executives.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, Senator Odebiyi, former APC state chairman, Derin Adebiyi, and Amosun’s elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun were among other party chieftains present at the parallel inauguration.
Addressing the gathering, Odebiyi, who was Amosun’s Chief of Staff, said: “I don’t have much to say. Let’s continue to do the right thing and very soon, our wishes and aspirations would come to pass.”
On his part, Adebiyi described the Amosun-backed ward executives as the “authentic one.”
“We have submitted our results and they have approved it,” he said, adding: “We are in the majority and no reasonable and responsible party will abandon the majority for the minority.”
The two factions have also expressed their readiness to conduct parallel local council congresses slated for today.
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