Niger APC again holds LG congresses

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

The All Progressives Congress (APC) local government congresses in Niger state was peaceful, even as some of the party members were against the affirmation of some executives in the areas where they were adopted by affirmation.
It was gathered that in the local government congresses, most members went for affirmation of the former executives, while few believed that the election must take place to weed out those they tagged as “Selfish and corned about anything coming for themselves”
In Lavun local government, the executives faced serious opposition as some members were against affirmation and protested it.
Also in Katch, while most of the wards went for affirmation, only few went against it, in Munya, there were little opposition, while in areas like Lapiai, the party was able to resolve some of the teething problems bordering on alleged self centeredness by the executive.
In some local government areas like Suleja, Gbako, Agaie and Rijau where they insisted on election instead of affirmation to avoid crisis, they have postponed their congresses.
It was however observed yesterday that in the areas where the congresses took place, it was peaceful without hitches, while the highest political officers from the local government were on ground to ensure peace.
However, in some local government areas, there were protests against the affirmation of the executives.
Consequently, some delegates called for voting but they were overruled as the affirmation order took the day. Even while the affirmation process was ongoing, the delegates took buses to the Government House in Minna to protest the process of the APC congress.
There was also protest in Shiroro local government area because of the affirmation directives as most of the delegates tried to opt for voting but were overruled.
The Niger state APC Chairman, Engineer Jibril Imam, said that those against the affirmation of the executive were not members of APC, adding that they were PDP sponsored members who were in APC to cause disintegration in the party.
He said that the Affirmation of the executives was unanimously agreed to by genuine members of APC.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the party in Niger state, Ray Murphy said the APC local government congress was peaceful, “I am deeply impressed with the affirmation method. When I asked them if they have other contesting candidates, they chorused no; and I asked them again if they are satisfied with the candidate, they shouted yes.
“The gesture by the APC led government and members of the people is worthy of emulation by other states”, he said.