All is now set for the conduct of ward congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Wednesday across the 203 wards in the 18 local government areas of the State.
The Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on Tuesday led party leaders from across the state to a stakeholders meeting with members of the congress committees from the national secretariat of the party.
At the meeting, which held at the party’s State Secretariat in Akure, the Ward Congress Committee led by Chief Margaret Aruruenu (Chairman) and Barrister Smart Iheazor (Secretary), briefed the party leaders on the preparations for the exercise.
Both Aruruenu and Iheazor assured the party leaders that the various Congress Committees will perform their duties in line with the set guidelines and constitution of the party.
Members of the three other committees from the national secretariat – Screening Committee, Screening Appeals Committee and Congree Appeals Committee – were also present at the meeting.
Three leaders of the party (Barrister Tolu Babaleye from the Northern senatorial district, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde from Central senatorial district and Hon. Ola Oguntimehin from Southern senatorial district), who spoke at the meeting, praised the peaceful conduct of the Screening exercise and promised their party members will conduct themselves peacefully during the Congress.
Also, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji, commended the efforts of the congress committees so far and assured them that the exercise will be peaceful across the state.
In his goodwill message, Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked members of the Screening and Screening Appeal committees for the transparent manners in which they have handled their activities and urged the Congress and Congress Appeals Committees to follow same path in conducting credible exercise in the 203 wards in the state.
Responding to the incident that took place earlier at the Party Secretariat, the Governor said he got reports that supporters of aspirants for party positions engaged in some scuffle which was later brought under control by the police and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The Governor added that he remains committed to ensuring peace and stability in Ondo State and within the APC family.
Other party leaders at the meeting included the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji, former Senator Ayo Akinyelure, former members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ade Adeogun and Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye, members of the House of Assembly, among others.