At least one person was killed and scores wounded, while a state’s secretariat was torched on Saturday as the Ward Congresses of the ruling Al Progressives Congress turned violent in parts of the country.
In Ekiti State, one person, identified as Jide, was killed at the Ado Ward 10, with many other sustaining injuries of varying degrees.
In Akwa Ibom State, youths protesting the insistence of party leaders on consensus candidates, torched the Party’s secretariat.
The arrowhead of the insistence on consensus candidates was said to be the National Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe to have a consensus arrangement.
The youths were said to have carried placards showing various messages, including, “Udodehe you can’t hijack our party,” and ”We want a free and fair congresses not consensus.” .
In Ekiti, the killing resulted from violence and shooting that occurred across the 177 wards in the state during the exercise.
While the exercise began peacefully, it later tuned violent overs disagreements on the mode to adopt for the exercise.
At the heart of the violence was the contentious issue of consensus version election of candidates. In many of the states where factions exist in the party, some rooted for consensus while others insisted on the candidates being elected.
Party members in the camp of Governor Kayode Fayemi canvassed for a consensus arrangement covering the entire state, while the other faction, said to loyal to Bola Tinubu, preferred election of candidates.
In Ogun State, the factions of the party organised their congresses. The faction loyal to governor r, Prince Dapo Abiodun, held its own, which the he described as successful.
Party members loyal to the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, organised a parallel ward congress.
For the Osun State chapter of the party, consensus candidates were elected throughout the states’ 332 wards
There were however complaints by members loyal to the Minister of the Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, of being excluded from the exercise.
According to them, the party in the state did not carry them along.
