By Yusuf Salihu Sansani, Jalingo
In Preparation for its forthcoming ward congresses, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has convened a critical stakeholders’ meeting in Jalingo to strategise for the successful conduct of the exercise.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the state governor, Agbu Kefas, the Taraba State APC Chairman, Barrister Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, said the governor directed him to formally notify party leaders and members about the congresses and urged them to return to their respective wards to participate fully.
El-Sudi disclosed that the governor, as leader of the APC in Taraba State, had instructed that no stakeholder should encroach into another ward or local government area or interfere in the affairs of others.
He emphasised that the ward congresses must be transparent, orderly and grassroots-driven. According to him, all official congress forms have been obtained by the governor and are in his custody, stressing that there is only one recognised form.
He urged stakeholders to disregard any contrary information, noting that the governor has no preferred candidate in the exercise.
The APC chairman further quoted the governor as saying that political power ultimately comes from God, recalling his emergence as state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and later as governor without executive backing.
The meeting featured an interactive question-and-answer session and contributions from stakeholders, which helped clarify the guidelines and expectations ahead of the congresses.
However, some party members who spoke expressed concern over the purchase of all ward congress forms by the governor, alleging it could be an attempt by the party leadership to install loyalists as ward officials and sideline other aspirants.
They warned that any move to coerce members or undermine their right to freely participate in the APC’s internal elections in Taraba State would not be tolerated.
