Osun APC Ward Congresses: Only Candidates Who Passed Screening Were Declared Winners, Says Committee Chair

Yinka Kolawole

The Osun National Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward Congress has announced that only candidates who collected nomination forms, passed through the screening process and participated in the congress were declared winners.

The committee also reiterated that the exercise was carried out in line with the principles and guidelines of the party as enshrined in its constitution and in accordance with the directive of the national leadership of the APC.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, stated these at the state’s party secretariat in Oshogbo during a press conference and expressed satisfaction with the ward congresses that were held in Osun State last weekend, which he described as huge success.

Elegbeleye debunked insinuations that members of the committee did not meet with stakeholders of the party before the exercise and insisted those peddling such insinuations were on a self-serving motive.

He disclosed that the committee met with stakeholders of the APC in the state, including three former deputy governors, serving members of the National Assembly, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, among other key stakeholders.

He, therefore, noted that it would be hypocritical of any discerning mind and member of the party to say that those whom the committee met with were not stakeholders of the APC in Osun State.

Elegbeleye said: “We came in on Friday and held a Stakeholders’ meeting with the leaders of the party who are critical stakeholders of the party. This stakeholders’ meeting had the governor in attendance, with three former deputy governors, Speaker of State House of Assembly, members of the National Assembly among other leaders of the party.

“So, you cannot say such generality of the party’s leaders that we met were not representatives of the people. We actually met with those we all know as leaders of the party. They are indeed the leaders of the party.

“What we did on Saturday was to ensure that only those who got and filled nomination forms, passed through screening process participated in the ward congresses, and it is only this set of people that could be declared the winners of the ward congresses.

“We were given the mandate from the national secretariat, so, there is no way we will declare those who didn’t collect nomination forms, who didn’t fill them and who didn’t pass through the screening process as winners.

“So, it is those who participated in the congress who collected forms, filled forms, passed through screening exercise that we can say are eligible.

“I have the forms of each of the three senatorial districts with me and I am using this opportunity, on behalf of my colleagues in congress committee, to declare those who were screened as elected representatives and new executive of each of the wards they represent.”

The press conference was attended by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye; the State Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Mr. Gboyega Famodun and members of the recently inaugurated Caretaker Committee of the Local Government Areas, among others.