By Adesakin Adefemi
All is set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress scheduled for Wednesday across 203 wards in Ondo State’s 18 local government areas. Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has urged party members to elect officers in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere.
On Tuesday, Governor Aiyedatiwa led party leaders to a stakeholders’ meeting with members of the congress committees from the national secretariat, marking the final phase of preparations. He emphasized that a calm, transparent election process is crucial to strengthening the party’s grassroots structure ahead of future contests.
The meeting, held at the APC State Secretariat in Akure, featured briefings from the Ward Congress Committee, chaired by Chief Margaret Aruruenu with Barrister Smart Iheazor as secretary. Both assured attendees that the exercise would be conducted strictly in line with party guidelines and the APC constitution.
Representatives from the Screening Committee, Screening Appeals Committee, and Congress Appeals Committee were also present, underscoring the comprehensive oversight framework designed to ensure transparency and credibility throughout the process.
Three regional party leaders—Barrister Tolu Babaleye (Northern Senatorial District), Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde (Central Senatorial District), and Hon. Ola Oguntimehin (Southern Senatorial District)—commended the peaceful conduct of the screening exercise and pledged their members’ commitment to a hitch-free congress.
Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, lauded the committees’ efforts and expressed confidence that the exercise would proceed without disruptions across the state.
In his goodwill message, Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked the Screening and Screening Appeals committees for their transparency and urged the Congress and Congress Appeals committees to maintain the same standard of credibility.
Addressing an earlier scuffle at the party secretariat, the governor noted that supporters of aspirants for party positions were involved in a brief altercation, which was quickly contained by the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). He reaffirmed his commitment to peace and stability within the APC family and across Ondo State.
Other prominent party figures at the meeting included Deputy Governor Dr. Olayide Adelami, former Senator Ayo Akinyelure, former House of Representatives members Hon. Ade Adeogun and Hon. Tajudeen Adefisoye, and current members of the State House of Assembly, reflecting broad-based support for the congress.
