APC dismisses alleged parallel Local Government Congresses

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed media reports that there were parallel congresses in some States during last Saturday Local Government congresses conducted by the party across the country.
Briefing journàlists at APC headquarters yesterday in Abuja on the conduct and outcome of the party’s Local Government congresses, the National Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), John James Akpanudoedehe said there was no parallel congresses to the knowledge of the party.
Describing the outcome as more successful than the ward congress, he said “I don’t know why you are reporting what is not available, as far as APC is concerned, we are very structured, we put up a committee and the committee has gone out to conduct the Congresses.
“The next step will be an appeal and anyone with issue will go to the appeal and if you are not satisfied with the appeal, the caretaker committee will handle it. That is our structure.”
Speaking further, Akpanudoedehe said “We are already compiling the list of all the cases and you are very conversant with the party constitution. We will inform the NEC and a decision will be taken by NEC. We will gather the whole thing together then we will approach NEC for a decision. But do we stand by what the NEC said? The decision of the NEC, Yes.”
On the issues of consensus by some local governments in adopting their leaders, the national secretary said the APC Constitution allows consensus, hence some people go to their wards and do consensus, but said certainly, some persons will not be happy because things did not go their way.
“There can be complaints everywhere. Do not forget the last statement that we issued. There is a window of opportunity when people are not satisfied. The Caretaker committee is still open. Generally, I will say we are not going to patronize them by looking at the loophole people”, he said.
He also dismissed the allegations that in Lagos, some people allegedly paid for forms which were not made available to them, saying “Forms are available, If they did not give you forms in your state, come to Abuja, we will give it to you. We have said clearly that we shall sell the form to you if your state is not ready to sell to you.”