There were parallel congresses at the local government congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state on Saturday, as different factions within the party presented  lists of winners.

However,  the Chairman of the party in the state,  Hon. Ade Adetimehin, told Nigerians Tribune that the congresses went “smoothly and rancour free and peaceful.

Adetimehin said there was no parallel congresses in the areas monitored by him and the leadership of the party saying the party remained united in the state.

According to Adetimehin, the party remained one in the state and said, “there is only one centre in Akure South,  and there are 27 elected delegates from the ward including five delegates from local government to elect government executives.

“The main duty of the Congress committee is to elect 27 local government executives for each local government across the Ondo State.

Speaking on the parallel congresses, the APC chairman said “on the parallel congresses, I am not aware but what I just know is that we have one congress committee set up by the National body of our party and they came down here to select three returning officers to go and conduct congresses across.

“At the National level, they have seven man committee with three returning officers that means we have one congress committee from the ward to the local and to the state.

“Today’s congress, the appeal committee has come and gone and if there is any problem you will tender it before the committee and they will look into it.

“There is no polarization in Ondo APC, we are one family, we are very united and that’s the symbol of our party ‘broom’.

But two were parallel congresses were held reportedly held in Akure South, Akure North,  Ifedore, Akoko South West, Ondo West, Ondo East and almost all local government areas in the state except Owo and Idanre local government areas.

In Akure South, the congresses led by the lawmaker representing Akure South /North federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Afe Olowookere, who said the officer who are to pilot the affairs of the party, while he described the congress as peaceful.

In Ifedore, the lawmaker representing Ifedore/ Idanre federal constituency, Hon. Bamidele Baderinwa, said the local government congress was held at the APC secretariat in the local government.

He said “Our congress was peaceful and smoothly conducted. We have representatives from INEC and security men around to maintain law and order. There was no election but affirmation”