16th October, 2021
Bashir Bolarinwa, leader of a faction of the Kwara All Progressives Congress was elected as chairman Saturday, in absentia.
The faction, backed by Information Minister Lai Mohammed and Minister of state for transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, elected Bolarinwa and other executives at a parallel delegate conference.
The election by affirmation held at its Secretariat in Ilorin, the state capital.
However, it was not witnessed by INEC or any official of the APC from the national secretariat.
Both Mohammed and Saraki were conspicuously absent at the venue of the event.
But present were a member of the Federal Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi; member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Ilorin East/South constituency, Ganiyu Cook Olododo and Saheed Popoola of the House Assembly, among other party stalwarts.
Returning Officer, Dr Bolaji Afolabi, said the new executives emerged by the wish of the majority members of the party.
Other executive members include Chief Theophilous Adeboye Sunday (vice-chairman); Issa Isiaka Agboji (Secretary); Abolaji Olaide Rahmat (women leader); Joseph Ndanusa Tsado (senatorial chairman North); AbdulRaheem Yusuf Akorede (Kwara Central) and Rasak Alabin(Kwara South) while comrade Sunkanmi Afolayan emerged as Youth leader.
Vice chairman, Chief Sunday told journalists: “As you can see, over 1,000 delegates affirmed the new executives and we are ready to move the party forward through activities that will attract more people to the party.”
He said the group adequately informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National secretariat of the party of its congress.
“We hope to see them before leaving the venue.”
He hinted that the new chairman, Bolarinwa was unavoidably absent at the venue of the congress due to some undisclosed reasons.
“BOB is absent for one reason or another, but as you can witness, people have clamoured for his return as chairman and that is the wish of the majority members of our party.”