By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)

The nationwide Congresses of the All Progressive Congress (APC) witnessed an impressive turnout of members in Niger state, but with two parallel executives expected at the end of the exercise which took place in Minna.

The emergence of two factions is coming against the backdrop of the denial of some aspirants to the ruling party by the Congress screening Committee in Niger state hence the over 30 aspirants who had bought their forms from the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja coming together to organize their congress and produce leaders of their choice.

While the state faction allegedly with the full backing of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had their congress at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, opposite Government House, the other faction already concluded theirs at a private building along Bay Clinic road, both within the Minna metropolis.

Interestingly, the ‘rejected’ group has already concluded and has sworn in their leaders despite being denied access to the Abdulsalam Youth Center, a government facility that was sealed up on the alleged orders of the state government after the faction had booked for it.

In his acceptance speech, the factional Chairman, Malam Nasiru Yusuf Ubandiya, said their election is legal because, “INEC representative was present, Niger state Congress Committee from Abuja, security agencies, CSOs and other critical stakeholders witnessed the election”.

Yusuf Ubandiya said the election which produced him as the chairman showed that he scored the highest number of votes out of the 1, 467 votes cast and ‘was pronounced as the democratically elected chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Niger state’.

He promised to take the APC in Niger state to the next level by ensuring an all-inclusive leadership while appealing for the support and cooperation of members from across the 25 Local Government Areas of the State to support the new administration to succeed.

Ubandiya who however said he has forgiven those who wronged him and other members of the faction said, “Today's historic victory is the beginning of a new era, leadership with focus, vision, and agenda to build the party through inclusive member’s participation in all its activities”.

A new era where policies and programs as well as decisions of the APC in Niger state especially in areas of, gender balancing in elective and appointive positions and decision-making processes in the party will be rightly upheld.

“I wish to state that my administration will operate an open policy in the spirit of; reconciliation, democracy, and good governance for the benefit of all Nigerlites”, Ubandiya said as he expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for identifying with his group.

Also speaking, the factional Secretary, Noami Dauda, emphasized the need for unity amongst the ranks of the party, insisting that they are the ‘real elected executives of the APC in Niger state and they are not fractionalized with any group’.

According to her, “This is the authentic newly elected executive of the APC in Niger state. We are the real executives, we do not have any fraction and we are here to serve the people of the state and move the party forward”.

Meanwhile, the Coastal Bus that brought Governor Bello through the back gate of the Legbo Kutigi conference center could not access the facility after close to 20 minutes of waiting, prompting the passengers including the Governor to step out and walk to the hall on foot.

Findings by NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent also indicated that the Governor, having feelers of another Congress going on somewhere despite efforts to muzzle them, needed to return to the Government House with his team for the restrategizing case of any eventualities.

Governor Bello however returned to the conference hall about 20 minutes after when the entire area had become crowded with party supporters and political thugs, but this time in his black bulletproof Jeep.

The results from Governor Bello-led factional congress are still being awaited at the time of filing this report. NNL.