Fresh crisis brews in Ogun as Abiodun, Amosun plot parallel ward congresses

Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, have renewed their rivalry ahead of Saturday’s Ward Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State. Daily Trust reliably gathered that Abiodun and Amosun’s camps are set for parallel congresses except for a last minute truce. PODCAST: Human Trafficking: ‘Nigeria Must Ditch Its Infamous […]

Governor Dapo Abiodun and his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, have renewed their rivalry ahead of Saturday’s Ward Congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.

Daily Trust reliably gathered that Abiodun and Amosun’s camps are set for parallel congresses except for a last minute truce.

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Our correspondent reports that Abiodun and Amosun squared off in the buildup to the 2019 general elections.

Although the two political leaders are members of APC, they have maintained different camps within the ruling party.

Sources told our correspondent that both camps have been compiling lists of their ward executives ahead of Saturday.

The state leadership of APC did not to adopt any mode of Congress unlike some other states which adopted consensus arrangement.

“It (parallel congress) is very likely to occur on Saturday because Amosun won’t work with Dapo Abiodun,” a top member of APC in the state told our correspondent on Friday night.

The source said Amosun’s camps had obtained nomination forms for all the 236 wards from the National Headquarters, Abuja, rather than the one from the Congress Committee set up by the National Caretaker Committee.

“It is allowed,” the source explained.

It was also gathered that Abiodun’s camp obtained forms from the three-an committee and prepared ground for the congress.

Meanwhile, Ward Congress Committee has announced modalities for the conduct of the exercise in the 236 wards across the State.

A statement made available to Daily Trust by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin, quoted the Chairman of the committee, Wale Ohu, in Abeokuta, on Friday, to have said the congress would commence with the accreditation of party members at designated points in each of the 236 wards in the state at 9.00 am on Saturday, 31st July, 2021.

“Chief Ohu enjoined all members of the party to adhere strictly to the guidelines as announced earlier by the Committee.”

“The Committee further enjoined the party faithful to turn out in large numbers for the congress and conduct themselves peacefully whilst observing COVID-19 protocols,” the statement read.