By Oluwaseun Gbadebo
Nigeria’s ruling party All Progressives Congress, APC, is grappling to unite its members and their ambitions ahead of the general election next year.
At state congresses held across the country, the party had more than one parallel congress especially in key states like Lagos and Kwara.
Chronicle NG reports that in Lagos, a faction led by Fouad Oki challenged the dominance of the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in dictating the political direction of the state.
Oki defied the party juggernauts in the state, including Governor Akinwunmi Ambode by holding a separate state congress at Ikeja Airport Hotel, different from the one held at the party’s secretariat on Acme Road, also in Ikeja.
Oki returned himself as the chairman of the APC in the state, while the main congress at the State Secretariat produced Alhaji Tunde Balogun, a former commissioner.
It was not clear whether Oki’s congress was supervised by officials sent by the National secretariat of the APC.
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The congress conducted at the party secretariat on Acme Road, was witnessed by the State Congress Committee headed by Senator Uche Ekwunife.
In Kwara it was a tussle of heavyweights, perhaps one that puts more light on the disagreements between the executive and legislature.
Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki and Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed battled for the soul of APC in Kwara, with both participating in parallel state congress in Ilorin on Saturday, to elect state executives.
While the faction loyal to Saraki held its congress at the Banquet Hall opposite the Government House, the faction loyal to Lai Mohammed, held theirs at the Arca Santa Event Hall.
Chronicle NG reports that those present at the congress Saraki attended were Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; Senator Shaaba Lafiaji and lawmakers representing the state at the national assembly and state house of assembly.
In Lai Mohammed’s camp were Moshood Mustapha, former Special Assistant to the Senate President on Special Duties and Inter-Parliamentary Affairs; Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, a former Commissioner for Information under the Saraki administration and former Secretary to the State Government under the Saraki administration, Alhaji Ganiyu Cook-Olododo.
The story in Oyo was no different, while Governor Abiola Ajimobi attended the congress held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, the Unity Forum of the party held its own at the Liberty Stadium.
Present were former Oyo governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC-Oyo North), Hon. Olagunju Ojo, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, and Senator Teslim Folarin, a former Senate Leader.
Chief Moses Adeyemo, the Deputy Governor, and his predecessor, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja were, however, absent at the congress.
In Niger state, the congresses held amidst some protests by feuding members. In Taraba, the congress was suspended following crisis within the party.
In Southwest Nigeria, Ogun state held one of the rare peaceful congresses.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
