The leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has said there were no parallel congresses anywhere in the country, and frowned on those using the term to justify the foolishness of some recalcitrant members.
Spokesman of the APC, Bolaji Abdullahi said on Monday that the party has rules on the ongoing congresses, including provision for sanctions for those who go against the set rules for the exercises.
“I have received media requests on the issue of so-called parallel congresses in a couple of States.
“The Party’s position is that there is no such thing as parallel congress. The only congress recognised by the Party is that conducted in accordance with the Party constitution, which was organised by the congress committee charged by the Party to organise such congress.
“We therefore regard any so-called parallel congresses as exercise in futility and attempt to cause confusion in the Party.
“We wish to reiterate that any Party member who has any genuine grievances regarding the congresses should channel such through the Appeals Committee in their respective states,” Abdullahi said.
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC has cautioned Governor Rochas Okorocha for insinuating that the leadership of the party was supporting some members of the APC more than the others in Imo state.
Okorocha had said he would hold the NWC accountable for the “crises” in the party in Imo, particularly alleging that the National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun was working against him because he failed to support his tenure elongation agenda.
But the NWC has responded to Okorocha’s allegation thus: “All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) has told the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, not to transfer mismanagement of his relationship with his people on the party’s national leadership.
“With due respect, Governor Okorocha is being malicious and unfair to the NWC. If he has mismanaged his relationship with his own people, in a way that they now constitute an encumberance to him, he should not transfer his frustration to the NWC.
“It is certainly not right to set fire to the village because you want to kill a rat. If Governor Okorocha has any specific grievances, he should come forward with them rather than making this generalised accusations.
”