By Peter Dansu The All Progressives Congress has screened no fewer than 540 aspirants ahead of its Ward and Local Government Area congresse...
By Peter Dansu
The All Progressives Congress has screened no fewer than 540 aspirants ahead of its Ward and Local Government Area congresses across the 20 local government areas of Lagos State, setting the stage for what party leaders describe as a seamless and rancour free exercise.
Chairman of the five man APC Screening Committee, Mr Nungji Salama, disclosed this on Friday while addressing journalists after a stakeholders meeting held in Ikeja. He said the committee was fully prepared to conduct a credible and peaceful LGA congress following the successful completion of the ward congresses.
According to Salama, the screening exercise was crucial to the success of the congress scheduled to hold across the state. He commended various committees set up to support the process, noting that their cooperation had ensured a smooth exercise so far.
He said the ward congress was conducted without incident and that attention had now shifted to the LGA congress. He thanked all aspirants for offering themselves to serve the party and urged them to remain committed to its peace and progress.
Salama explained that 27 executives would emerge from each of the 20 local government areas. He added that where consensus arrangements were reached unanimously, the committee would simply ratify the agreed candidates.
He assured aspirants that the list of screened candidates would be pasted at the party secretariat and appealed to those who might not make the final list to remain sportsmanlike, stressing that there would always be another opportunity to serve.
In his welcome address, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, described the assignment of the screening committee as critical to deepening democracy within the party and strengthening its internal structures.
Ojelabi expressed appreciation to the committee members for their sacrifices and dedication, noting that the state chapter, being an interested party, could not conduct the congress on its own. He thanked the national secretariat for sending credible officials to oversee the exercise in Lagos.
He also urged party leaders at the local government level to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the amended Electoral Act, describing the emergence of new executives as a call to service rather than an opportunity for personal gain.
According to him, it would not be business as usual, as those elected must be ready to work diligently, strengthen party structures and mobilise effectively. He emphasised the importance of inclusive leadership, stressing that the youth and women must not be sidelined in the party’s affairs.
Ojelabi expressed confidence that the executive committees expected to emerge from the 20 LGAs would provide effective leadership and further consolidate the party’s dominance in the state.
The meeting was attended by several party leaders and government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu Hundeyin, and the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro.
As of the time of filing this report, the lists of screened candidates for the various LGAs were yet to be pasted at the party secretariat.
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