The disagreements recorded in Kogi state during the congress few days ago suggest that the division in the party, which became a source of general concern, when it held sharply divided and parallel congresses across the state, may only have deepened further.
The confusion arising from the open disagreements and the parallel congresses have confirmed allegations of factionalisation in Kogi state chapter of the party as leaders struggle for control of the soul of the party from the wards, up to the state and national levels.
I gathered that the confusion can be traced to the struggle for the control of the party structure in the state between the Governor, Yahaya Bello and the members of Audu Faleke political family.
The confusion few days ago during the congress confirmed that the wide crack in the party has not been resolved at all. Whatever is the case, the party leadership cannot afford to pretend to be unaware of the long term implication of the deepening cracks.
Although the other faction of APC said the congress was peaceful and successful, the State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, confirmed the confusion when he alleged that there was no congress election in the 239 electoral wards in the state.
My investigation shows that the leadership of the party is still inundated with more troubling reports from other states where factional rivalries are yet to be resolved. As a result, party elders across the state have held emergency meetings on the way forward. Linking the crisis to the disagreement over the next National Chairman of the party, most leaders, have expressed the view that the controversies surrounding the zoning option must be resolved first before APC can move forward.
It is certain that except the party leaders at the centre objectively resolve the petty crises in various wards and states, the future of APC will be bleak. As you can see, their personal ambition has remained the major stumbling block and that is where the rebirth strategy will begin from, if we are serious about contesting with PDP in 2019.
Some aggrieved party members, loyal to Audu Faleke political family had called for cancellation of the congress in the state that what we have seen during the congress is a reflection of the division in Abuja.
– Alfa Tijani, a media aficionado, writes from Kogi state.
