The two factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State held parallel congresses across the state on Sunday.
While the governor’s SENACO Group held its congresses at the headquarters of local governments, the Unity Forum held its own congresses at the secretariats of the party in the council areas.
The two factions had been squaring up to another since last week when differences emerged over the conduct of ward congresses.
It was observed that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observed the exercise in various parts of the state.
The Secretary of Unity Forum, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, praised members of the party who trooped out en masse for the congress.
He said they should be praised because they defied attempts by the government to intimidate them from coming out for the exercise.
Olatunbosun added; ”Government officials were all over the place yesterday threatening that policemen and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) would be used to disperse party members if they assemble for the congress today. But our members who are delegates were so determined that they turned out in their numbers to vote in the exercise. We have to stop impunity in our party.’’
A member of the Unity Forum, Prof Adeolu Akande, said the congress went on peacefully and has again confirmed that the Unity Forum is the soul of APC in the state.
“Our members were peaceful in their conduct and are determined to ensure that the tenets of democracy as enshrined in the constitution of our party are followed”.
A party elder, Dr Busari Adebisi, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), had earlier commended members of the Unity Forum for standing against what he called impunity, urging them to brace up for the many tasks ahead of them.
He said that is the only way to rescue the party from its present state of comatose.
Among those elected as Chairmen at the congress held by the Unity Forum are Adetoro Mathew (Saki East), Elder Olu Opawale (Egbeda), Alhaji S.T. Opadeji (Akinyele), Adegboyega Aderemi (Ogo Oluwa), Oguntoye Michael Asamu (Ogbomosho South), and Alhaji Ajibike Rasaq (Oyo West).
Others are S. Ayanlola (Ogbomosho North), Ganiyu Mumonu (Oriire), Kazeem Azeez (Ibarapa Central), Mrs Tinuade Adigun (Ibadan North), Alhaji Kareem Adebayo (Saki West), Pastor Samuel Popoola Akintokun, Alhaji Lateef Akinsanya, Amusat Tawaliu Olawale, Alhaji Raimi Adeniyi, Waheed Akinyele, Owolabi Banusomo (Itesiwaju, Hon. Muniru Elegbede (Kajola) and Layi Omokunmi (Iseyin).
