APC Ward Congress: ‘Keep OFF’, Party raps Rep
By Ladapo Kolade
The chairmen of the All Progressives Congress in Isolo and Ejigbo local council development areas and the 13 ward chairmen shunned a meeting organised by the member, House of Representatives, Hon. (Engineer) Ganiyu Johnson representing the constituency to discuss the forthcoming ward congresses and the next council elections last Wednesday September 16 alleging that he was dabbling into a matter that was strictly party affairs.
The letter, issued on the letterhead of the member, House of Representatives, was issued on Monday September 14, this year, titled ” Forthcoming APC Congresses and Council Polls”.
It reads: ” I humbly write to request for your presence at an interactive forum on the above subject matter.
The meeting will enable us to brainstorm on the activities of the party within the constituency.
Your presence is highly important to the success and progress of the party.Thank you.”
The meeting was scheduled to hold at No.61, Ireakari Estate road, Isolo
The letter was copied to the state chairman of APC, Alhaji Balogun.
Barrister Gani Belllo is the chairman of the party in Isolo LCDA and Alhaji Fatai Kasumu is his counterpart in Ejigbo LCDA.
The names and wards of the 13 chairmen are Sunday Olawumi,(Aigbaka); Idowu Falana, (Ifoshi);A. Adefioye, (Ailegun); Wale Tonade, (Ishaga/Ire-akari); Mrs. Adegbite, (ilamoshe); Enoch (Ajao); Badmos, ( Akinbaye); D.Pikuda, (Alagbeji); K. Oluwatosin, ( Okota); G. Shelle, (Ilasamaja) S. Adeogun ( Fadu) and S.Dejo, (Oke-afa).
The party officials said the letter violated the constitution of the party which has not given any member of the House of Representatives the power to take over the functions of the party.
The local government officials promptly reported the matter to the state chairman who promised to speak to Hon.Ganiyu Johnson to shelve the idea.
According to the chairmen, the party constitution provides for the senatorial district as the next level after the local government for discussing party matters.
Considering the fact that the LCDAs are in the Lagos West Senatorial District, Vice Chairman of the party in the district, Chief Funsho Ologunde is the appropriate officer to summon such a meeting.
He would then report to the state chairman in line with the hierachy of the party organs.
Another option, insiders say, is for the two members of the party’s caucus at the state level, the Governor’s Advisory Council, GAC who operate in both local governments to call for such meetings.
The members of the GAC are the former vice chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, 84 year old Pa Imran Taiwo and the former chairman of the party, Chief Henry Ajomale.
According to the party’s constitution, the body with the ultimate power to deliberate on the matters listed for discussion is the state executive committee of the party.
According to Article 13 susection 7 (v), the state committee is empowered to “consider reports from Local Government Area Chapters of the Party and take such decisions that are necessary to Protect, advance and Consolidate the gains and interest of the Party within the State”.
In separate interactions, the chairmen also argued that the meeting was unnecessary because neither the national nor state chapter of the party has issued any directive to the local government branch to take any action on the subject so it would be anti-party to act outside the authority of the party.
Besides, the party constitution, in Article 20, has established fair and free procedures for the election of candidates of the party for all posts.
The incident sparked a controversy in the constituency over the powers of a member of House of Representatives to intervene in party matters.
Veteran party officials considered the development unusual stating that none of his predecessors such as Gbolahan Okuneye, 1999-2003; Jaiyeola Ajatta, 2003-2011; and Abiodun Muniru, 2011 -15; had taken such interest in election of party officials and council officials.
