The Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has conducted ward congresses across all the 193 wards in the state, with party leaders emerging through affirmation in what officials described as a peaceful and unifying exercise.

The congress, monitored by a committee from the party’s national secretariat, was held across the three senatorial districts, including areas in Ilorin, Asa, Ekiti and Baruten. Observers reported a calm atmosphere at various ward centres, with party members turning out to participate in the process.

Speaking at the party secretariat in Ilorin, the state chairman of the APC, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said the affirmation process was adopted to promote cohesion and reduce tension within the party ranks.

“This is the ward congress of the party which takes place in all 193 wards in the state. So far so good, we have not heard any adverse reports. The idea behind affirmation is to make the exercise less rancorous,” Fagbemi said.

He explained that although many of the executives were returned, the congress remained a constitutional requirement of the party.

“It is an affirmative congress because our people are supposed to be carried on from where they are, but it is a constitutional responsibility of the party to go through the process,” he added.

Fagbemi described the exercise as a symbol of unity and internal stability, expressing optimism that the strengthened grassroots structure would position the party for greater success in the 2027 general elections.

Chairman of the Congress Committee and Deputy Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, disclosed that all participants had undergone screening before being cleared to take part in the affirmation.

“So far so good, the report we are having is very encouraging. You cannot go to any affirmation without being screened. So, all the candidates have been screened by the party and they were found worthy to come back as APC executives at their respective wards. That is why we are having the affirmation taking place in the whole 193 wards in Kwara State,” Samari said.

Also speaking, Secretary of the Screening Committee, Oche Muhammed, said the panel had carefully scrutinised the list of aspirants before the exercise.

“We were given a list of screened accredited party faithful who vied into various ward offices. Elections have been conducted peacefully in various ward centres. Already, we have received some results while we await other results,” he stated.

At the local government level, party leaders echoed similar sentiments. Chairman of APC in Ilorin West Local Government, Hon. Suleiman Tejidini, said reports from the 12 wards in the council indicated that the congress was smooth and rancour-free.

“We reaffirmed all our chairmen and other party executives. All the stakeholders, including the elders, women and youth took part. That is why we can see jubilation everywhere because it was a collective decision of all the relevant stakeholders,” he said.

Tejidini commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the state party leadership, elected representatives and other stakeholders for fostering what he described as a conducive atmosphere for the exercise.

Similarly, Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government, Alhaji AbdulRahman Babatunde Ladan, described the congress as peaceful across the council area.

“There was no rancour among us as the exercise was only the reaffirmation of existing executives. We use this opportunity to thank our leader, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for creating an enabling environment for the exercise to take place peacefully,” Ladan said.

Reports from both the Southern and Northern Senatorial Districts also indicated that the ward congresses were conducted without major incidents, as the ruling party consolidates its grassroots structure ahead of future political contests.