2019: CONFUSION TRAILS ALL PROGRESS CONGRESS PRIMARIES, AS PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONDUCTS PARALEL CONGRESS IN OGUN

On the part of the All Progressives Congress, APC, there was confusion about the primaries across the State, as the national committees of the party responsible for the conduct of the primaries were not available.

Penpushing   visit to many of the wards, showed the presence of the party members waiting endlessly for the exercise, and unknown to them, the exercise had been postponed indefinitely, as at the time they were on the queue.

Penpushing also reports that, at Igbore Town Hall, ward 13, Abeokuta South Local Government Area, the legal adviser of the party at the State level, Alhaji  Tajudeen Bello said  the primaries would still take place as at 2pm, when the membership register was not available.

He said, he assured members to stay until when the membership register and officials arrive for the exercise, but after waiting endlessly, the members started moving away from the election venue, when it was dawned on them, that the exercise may be in futility.

Similarly, at Ward 6, Itoko where the State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun was expected to cast his vote, there was a mild violence following the attack on the ward chairman, Olanrewaju Olalekan by suspected unknown political thugs.

The Chairman while narrating his ordeal to journalists said, they were preparing for the congress when some suspected thugs stormed the venue, asking for money, and in a twinkle descended on him, adding that, the crisis was later laid to rest.

He also said, the party members were still waiting for the membership register and officials to conduct the congress, just as the party loyalists as at 1pm waited endlesesly for the primaries which did not see light of the day.

Another chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Afolabi Afuape while speaking with journalists also expressed optimism that, the congress would still take place, ‘we are still awaiting the membership register’

Penpushing reports that, Afuape, who is Commissioner for Youth and Sports said, anybody whose name does not appear in the register, even if it is the sitting Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, would not be allow to participate in the exercise.

It is recalled that,at about 10am, the Publicity Secretary of All Progress Congress, APC, at the State level, Wole Elegbede sent messages to journalists that, the rumoured postponement of the congress should be ignored.

‘Kindly disregard the rumours that the Ogun APC governorship direct primary is not holding today. In view of the above, we urge all our loyal and dedicated members to mobilize fully for free, fair and successful governorship primary today as planned’, Elegbede wrote..

However, hours after number of party supporters had filed out at their various wards, across the state to participate at the congress, the party spokesman at about 3pm issued out another counter statement foreclosing possibility of the congress to hold, and announced its postponement.

‘This to inform all the APC party faithful in Ogun State that the governorship direct primary slated for today has been officially postponed. Further directives will be issued later pending clarification from National Working Committee’, Elegbede wrote.