The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) state congresses holding today have become, yet again, issues of national attention as some hoodlums disrupted the exercise of a faction of the party in Ondo state.
The Ondo state factional congress involved those loyal to the suspended Chairman, Mr. Isaacs Kekemeke.
The hoodlums stormed the venue in Akure, the state capital armed with sticks and clubs and attacked delegates and members as well as newsmen at the venue.
The hoodlums also set a bonfire built with automobile tyres in front of the venue.
Some of the delegates had earlier arrived at the venue and were waiting for the exercise to start while the hoodlums arrived and disrupted the venue.
The Congress, therefore, ended abruptly as delegates and everyone present ran for cover.
The Congress is faced with controversies in states like Imo, Rivers, Delta, and Oyo states.
The Congress in Delta and Rivers has been postponed till Monday, May 21, while a court order has been issued, stopping Imo APC ward, local state Congress from holding.
Less than 24 hours to the scheduled congress in Imo State, a Federal High Court in Owerri issued a court injunction stopping anyone from participating in the state congress.
The court injunction signed by Justice Lewis Allagoa says all members of the party in Imo State including the state chairman, Hilary Eke, should restrain from organising any congress in the state pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.
However, there appears to be a crisis looming after a faction of the party vowed to go ahead with the congress.
Chief Convener of the faction called Imo APC Restoration Coalition, T.O.E Ekechi in a statement on Saturday claimed that there is no court order restraining them from holding the Congress in the state.
Governor Rochas Okorocha’s led faction had approached the court seeking to stop the conduct of the ward, LG congress or any other congress pending determination of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.
TPCN reported that the National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had on Friday announced the cancellation of the Rivers State Ward and Local Government Congresses.
The rescheduled ward and local government congresses set to hold on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
According to the Spokesman of the Party in the State Chris Finebone, the decision was taken to avoid a collision course with the court, Following a Court Order Stopping the Congresses.
According to John Odigie-Oyegun, the party’s National Chairman and Muiz Banire, its National Legal Adviser, the decision was taken after due consideration with major stakeholders.
However, the Senator Magnus Abe’s faction has directed loyalists not take part in the rescheduled congresses owing to a court order restraining the party from conducting congresses.
All is set for APC Congress in Kano State. It is expected that delegates from the 44 local government areas of the state will determine the leadership of the party.
The Congress is currently holding at the Sani Abacha indoor stadium.
Accreditation is ongoing with delegates from thirty local governments present.
A member of the State Local Organising Committee, Murtala Daro confirmed to Channels Television that the Congress is designed to be transparent.
In Niger State, all is set for the state congress. Accreditation is currently ongoing at three various locations.
The Congress was initially scheduled to commence by 10:00 am but accreditation did not commence until 10:45 am.
