Drama as APC Appeal Panel Sits in Abeokuta
Olorunfemi Ojo
Appeal Panel of the All Progressives Congress (APC) set up by the national leadership of the party to look into petitions arising from the April 5 Ward Congress on Wednesday sat in Abeokuta amidst protests by aggrieved party members.
The 3-man panel, led by Hon. Ikra Bilbis, a former federal minister, received oral and written evidence from the members of the party in the National Assembly, led by Senator Adegbenga Kaka, the main petitioners and Dr Babatunde Ipaye, representing the Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s group who believed the Congress observed the due process of the law.
Tempers rose when ex-Speaker, Rt. Hon Tunji Egbetokun, raised a Point of Order, on the use of disparaging words against the Office of the Governor and his person by Senator Kaka.
Attempt by the Congress Appeal Chairman to rule on the Point of Order was however aborted by a rowdy session instigated by supporters of
the NASS members, and this made the first session ended abruptly.
After the sitting reconvened two hours later, the panel received the evidence of the NASS members and that of the other group who spoke and presented written and documentary evidence to back up their claims that the Ward and Local Government Congresses were conducted in accordance with the guidelines issued by the national secretariat.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the sitting, Hon Bilbis promised that justice would be done to the petitions received before the State Congress of the party and dismissed the protests as “normal because we could be emotional as human beings. As a family, parties
involved came back and we concluded the exercise very well on a peaceful note.”
The Chairman advised members to always tolerate one another as brothers and sisters in the interest of the party, noting that winning the next general elections from the local government to the presidency is a task that must be accomplished by APC.