APC rejects parallel congresses, threatens sanctions   

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend rejected parallel state congresses held in certain parts of the country last Saturday. The party threatened to sanction those behind the parallel congresses, which members of the Caretaker Committee said were strange to the party, APC’s Constitution, and the guidelines for the conduct of State Congress.

The National Secretary of the APC Caretaker Committee, John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement, insisted that only congresses conducted by duly inaugurated State Congress Committees will be recognized by the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.

Parallel congresses were held in Ogun State where Governor Dapo Abiodun and former Governor Ibikunle Amosun held separate congresses with their supporters. In Osun State, Governor Gboyega Oyetola and former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, now Minister of Interior, held parallel congresses with their respective supporters producing different chairmen in the state. Same occurred in Bauchi State, beside others.

Akpanudoedehe in the statement, cautioned that “the APC leadership will take adequate and lawful measures against any person or interest sabotaging the Party’s collective interest and efforts to achieve peace and unity.”

The Interim national secretary emphasized, however, that where there are disputes, the APC has set up adequate conflict resolution structures to handle such crises.

The APC inaugurated the National Reconciliation Committee whose chairman is former Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, to handle disputes between party stakeholders and members.

Bulk of the delegates to the APC National Convention to elect members of the National Working Committee (NWC) would emerge from the elected state executives.