A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and younger brother of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi, Chief Wasiu Ajimobi has said that it is illegal to hold parallel congresses.
The junior Ajimobi made this disclosure while addressing journalists on Saturday in Ibadan.
The Laguna Balogun of Ibadanland, who spoke shortly after the ward congress was held at his Ward 2, Ibadan South East local government area, frown at the reports of some cases of parallel congresses held in some wards in the state.
The Daily Post Nigeria reports that parallel congresses were held in some wards in the state.
Ajimobi while speaking shortly after the emergence of Mr. Ibrahim Ishola Adekunle as the Ward 2 Chairman in Ibadan South East, then appealed to his kinsmen to be calm and maintain decorum.
He said, “Those having parallel congress should retrace their steps. As you can see, we are having our Ward Congress. You can see people gathering on the cueueing to elect their leaders for the next four years.
“You can see our congress is going peaceful. Nobody is harrasing anyone and our people are civil.
“I also heard some people are holding parallel Congress somewhere but I will advise them to maintain peace. This is the venue of our Ward Congress. It is written at the APC Secretariat that this address is the venue.
“If you see another set of people doing anything Congress somewhere else, it is illegal. I am sure the national Secretariat will take action against them as stipulated by our leaders. I will advise them to come back here and do the needful.
Adekunle, while speaking, appreciated people of his ward for electing him.
He urged them to continue supporting the party in order to win future elections.
“I am happy and appreciating the people of our Ward. As far as I am concerned, those behind the so called parallel congress needs to be more open to their followers. We are all winner of this congress.”
But, spokesman of the party, Dr. AbdulAzeez Olatunde while reacting, denied parallel congresses in the state.
Olatunde noted that he was not aware of any parallel congresses.
Olatunde said, “It is not true. To the best of my knowledge, there was no parallel congress in Oyo.”
