Daud Olatunji
Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State following conflicting claims over the conduct of the party’s Ward Congress, with a stakeholders’ forum alleging exclusion and manipulation, while the state chapter insists the exercise was peaceful and credible.
In a press release dated February 20, 2026, the Ogun East Stakeholders/Leaders Forum of the APC faulted reports credited to members of the Ward Congress Appeal Committee claiming that no petition was received regarding the conduct of the congress.
The forum described the claim as “far from the truth,” alleging that the Appeal Committee only addressed a congress conducted by what it termed “a faction of the party,” while ignoring what it called a “peaceful, legitimate and authentic congress” supervised by the Ogun East Stakeholders in line with procedures publicly advertised by the party’s national leadership.
According to the group, thousands of loyal party members complied with statutory guidelines, including payment of prescribed fees into the party’s account to obtain nomination forms, only to be sidelined.
“It is greatly unfair to sidestep these important guidelines and procedures to disenfranchise thousands of loyal party members who followed the directives of the national leadership,” the statement read.
The forum further disclosed that petitions had been submitted to the party’s national leadership through the office of the National Chairman and to the National Reconciliation Committee led by former Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.
The stakeholders expressed fears that the congress allegedly endorsed by the Appeal Committee was a “fait accompli” designed to impose a “No Contest” arrangement, warning that such a move could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
While affirming that the leadership of the party in the state, vested in Governor Dapo Abiodun, was not in dispute, the forum stressed that such leadership must be exercised with broad consultations to achieve consensus among stakeholders.
Signatories to the statement included Gen. Olumuyiwa Okunowo (Rtd), Akogun Kola Onadipe, Comrade Niyi-Osoba, Otunba Korede Okusanya, Princess Ronke Oduneye, and other party chieftains.
However, in a separate statement also dated February 20, 2026, the Ogun State chapter of the APC dismissed insinuations of irregularities, commending members for what it described as their “exemplary conduct” during the Ward Congress.
The statement, signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Hon. Femi Nuberu, said the peaceful atmosphere recorded during the exercise reflected the maturity, unity and loyalty of party members to its ideals and leadership.
“The peaceful atmosphere recorded during the exercise is a testament to the maturity, unity of purpose and unwavering loyalty of our members,” the party said.
As the party proceeds to the Local Government Congress scheduled for February 21, 2026, the state leadership directed that no local government should commence the exercise earlier than 12 noon.
The directive, according to the statement, is aimed at ensuring proper coordination, uniformity and transparency across all 20 local government areas of the state.
Party officials, electoral officers, aspirants and members were urged to strictly comply with the noon commencement time and maintain peace and discipline throughout the process.
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