Following the completion of its Ward Congress held earlier in the week, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its readiness to elect leadership across the 20 local government areas (LGAs) in the state.
This is consequent upon the successful completion of the screening exercise for the 27 aspirants from each of the 20 LGAs, on Friday, February 20 at the party secretariat in Ogba. The exercise was monitored by members of the LGA Ward Congress Committee, headed by Barrister Nungji B. Salama from Plateau State.
The LGA congress is scheduled to come up today, Saturday, February 21.
Addressing the aspirants and members of the press at a press conference on Friday evening, Salama described the exercise as hitchfree, emphasizing that consensus arrangements would be respected where stakeholders agreed.
“There is consensus if people agree. They will only need to ratify it. You will see the outcome when the results are pasted.”
Salama added that the list of qualified candidates would be published following the screening and that only those cleared would participate in the congress. He appealed to aspirants who did not make the list to remain committed to the party, saying, “For those that didn’t qualify, there is always another time. Let us do it without any rancour.”
Describing Lagos as a “pacesetter,” Salama noted that committee members were in the state to carry out their assignment in line with party guidelines and commended the state leadership for ensuring a smooth preparatory process.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Lagos APC Chairman, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, commended the activities of the Congress committee noting that the party leadership does not have the right to conduct the Congress hence the need to set up the committee by the national leadership.
“We started the process of the screening, and tomorrow we are rounding off in preparation for the local government congress,” Ojelabi said. He stressed that the APC remains committed to transparency in its internal processes, noting that it is the only political party to invite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of the press to observe its congresses.
Ojelabi also highlighted the importance of compliance with the Electoral Act, particularly for those who will oversee party structures at the LGA level.
“The content of the Electoral Act is very critical, so those who are going to be in charge at the LGA must be properly briefed,” he said.
Congratulating aspirants ahead of the congress, Ojelabi described election into party offices as a call to service. “By this time tomorrow, if you are elected, know that it is a call to service. Your election is for you to make an impact and contribute to the growth of the party and deepen our democracy. It won’t be business as usual. If you’re offering yourself to serve at the LGA level, be prepared.,” he said.
The LGA congress is expected to produce executive officers across the state’s local government and ward structures as part of the APC’s internal democratic process.
