Kwara State All Progressives Congress, APC, political party on Thursday inaugurated a 42 member committee for the forthcoming Local Government election in the 16 Councils in the state.
The Committee which will break into various sub committees is to organize the primary elections, hear claims and objections on the election and conduct enlightenment on the election for members of the party.
The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission, KWASIEC, has fixed the election for the chairman and Councilors in the 16 local government Councils of the state for September 21,2024 while it had also released the timetable for the elections.
Chairman of the party, Prince Sunday Fagbemi at the inauguration stated that the constitution of a committee for the election indicated that the APC was ready not only to win elections but to strengthen democratic values within the party.
“This exercise shows clearly that this is a party with clear plans and strategies to not just win elections but to strengthen democratic values and dividends at all levels in Kwara State and beyond. The APC is a party with an extensive network and admirers across every part of our state — thanks to the superlative and all-inclusive performances of His Excellency the Governor who is the leader of the party in Kwara State.
“Our gathering here is a follow up to what we have been doing over the last few days on how to achieve 100% victory for our party in the upcoming local government elections which is slated for September 21, 2024.
“The path to victory begins from this phase of picking our candidates and building a winning team. We have chosen the path of democratic consensus to maximize the timeframe we have to submit the names of our candidates as well as reduce bureaucracy and bottlenecks that often arise from outright field primaries.”
READ ALSO: Political party primaries for Kwara councils’ elections begin June 24
Fagbemi, who said consensus method with respect for local zoning arrangements will be adopted noted that the method will not be autocratic or without respect for history, and peculiar situations in different parts of the state.
The chairman who maintained that it was often difficult to have a process that is 100% satisfactory to all however said that “What the party would not do is to poke the fingers in the eyes of any of our member, old or young.”
He however called on members to be good party men who prioritize the interest of the state and collective success of the party above personal interests adding “I am confident that we are a party of disciplined and patriotic citizens, who also understand that power belongs to God and is to used to pursue collective good.”
He also called on all aspirants for both the Councillorship and chairmanship not to see the election as a do or die affairs adding that “all of us are good enough to be the next chairman, councilors. But we cannot all be in that office at the same time.
“I therefore appeal to you to not see anything as do or die. Whoever wins in the consensus process should be humble enough to reach out to all others; and whoever does not emerge at this time is no less qualified or loved by the party. It is just the nature of political contests like this that one person can only emerge for one position.”
Fagbemi also charged the committee to prioritize the interest of the party above anything else saying that the committee is a friend to all and enemy to no one.
“It is beholden to no other person. All party members and aspirants are equal before the leadership of this party and are to be so treated every step of the way. All that should matter is equity and fairness, along with careful considerations for all the factors that can give us victory at the polls,” he maintained.
The deputy governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi congratulated the committee members and encouraged them to be diligent to duty and be fair to all concern as he assured that the party will come out 100% victorious at the end of the exercise.
The event had in attendance, Senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District, Senator Sadiq Umar Suleiman, House of Representative member, Ilorin South/Ilorin East Federal Constituency, Hon Yinka Aluko, Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Ojo Olayiwola Oyebode, Oke-Ogun, Leader of the House, Hon. Oba Abdulkadir Magaji, Ilorin Central, Whip of the house, Hon. Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel, Ekiti, Hon. Arinola Fatimoh Lawal, Ilorin East, Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, Edu, Hon. Salihu Mohammed Baba, Okuta/Yashikira, Hon. Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga, Shawo/Essa, Hon. Ogunniyi David Oluwaseun, Balogun/Ojomu and Hon. Babatunde Ayi Olatundun representing Ilorin North-West.
Also in attendance were APC elders and stalwarts including members across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
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