Large turnout at APC ward congresses in Edo

Large turnout of party members characterised the All Progressives Congress ward congresses in Edo State on Tuesday, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
NAN correspondent who monitored the exercise in Benin reports that most of the party members were seen at the various wards as early as 8am.
Officials designated to conduct congresses were, however, not seen at their duty posts as at 10am.
NAN also observed that security personnel were not seen at most polling units visited.
A party chieftain at Ikpoba-Okha, who pleaded anonymity, attributed the delay in arrival of the officials and materials to the harmonised position taken by the party on ward executives across the state.
The official said: “I can rightly tell you that most ward executives of the party have been harmonised by the party.
“This was achieved after series of meetings involving the party chieftains and the governor of the state.
“This issue of harmonisation became necessary to avoid rancour or crisis in the party.”
NAN recalls that APC ward congresses were earlier scheduled to take place in the 192 wards of the state last Saturday.
The party congresses at the local government have been fixed for April 12 to be followed by that of the state on April 23.
Meanwhile, the APC in Ondo State will hold its ward congress on April 9.
Olu Adegboro, the state acting Secretary of the APC, disclosed this in Akure on Tuesday in an interview with NAN.
“The party ward congress will hold tomorrow and it is a very significant kick start to the development of the party,” Adegboro said.
NAN recalls that the congress could not hold on April 5, because of the House of Representatives bye-election into Ilaje/Ese Federal Constituency.