The incumbent Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke and the Secretary, Mr. Mojeed Olaoya, were among party executive returned for another term of four years at the Governor Abiola Ajimobi-led factional party’s state congress on Saturday.
Others who were also returned at the congress held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, included
Dr Azeez Olatunde (Publicity Secretary)
Mrs. Mabel Williams (Women Leader),
Mr. Lekan Adeyemo emerged as Deputy Chairman
According to a statement issued by Oyo state government, the new executives emerged through voice vote at the congress conducted by a five-man APC State Congress Committee headed by Alhaji Abdullahi Gwarzo and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The statement added that Gwarzo, while addressing delegates, said the committee was not aware of any parallel congress, adding the only valid congress was the one conducted by the committee and witnessed by INEC officials.
“He said that the congress was conducted in line with the directives and guidelines of the party, adding “We did our best. We were able to elect the leadership of Oyo State APC without any rancour. You can see that everybody is happy, including the governor.”
RELATED: Oyo APC ‘Unity Forum’ Releases Names Of Elected Executives [FULL LIST]
“The congress was well-organised and we are not aware of any other congress or faction. APC is one united party. Nomination forms were sold to all aspiring members of the party in the state and Lekan Salami Sports Complex is the recognised venue.”
Other members of the committee included Alhaji Haruna Tilde, Mr. Muhammed Sanni Sidi, Mr. Emeka Okolie and Mr. Ayuba Idria, while the INEC officials were Mr. Olubunmi Ariyo from Abuja and Mr. Ayodele Folami from Ibadan.
The congress was attended by the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Olagunju Ojo, a former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin and Senator Abdulfatai Buhari.
Other APC chieftains in attendance included Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Mr Sunday Dare, Mr. Zaccheus Adelabu as well as members of the House of Representatives, Hons. Akeem Adeyemi, Jide Olatunbosun, Dokun Odebunmi, Saheed Fijabi and Abiodun Awoleye.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, while addressing newsmen, expressed willingness to accommodate all aggrieved party members, adding that the quality of good leaders was determined by their level of tolerance and ability to accommodate opposing views.
“In the spirit of true democracy, aggrieved members would be accommodated but the party won’t tolerate acts of thuggery, brigandage and unnecessary discord,” he said.
The governor, while charging the newly-elected executives to pursue peace and do everything within their means to unite the party, said “politics is about give and take. It is about reconciliation and interest. The most important is to accommodate others”.
Also, Alao-Akala, who expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the congress, volunteered to lead the team that would reconcile aggrieved members in the larger interest of the party.
