The All Progressives Congress in Ogun State has banned unauthorised screening of aspirants for the 2027 elections at the local government level, warning that severe sanctions await anyone caught flouting the party’s directive.

The party urged all leaders to exercise patience and await further directives from the state leadership, saying it would not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone who runs afoul of the warning.

The APC also warned against the misappropriation of recently released funds, saying the money is strictly meant for the hosting of meetings in the 236 wards and 20 local governments across the state.

These were part of the resolutions contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the party’s stakeholders’ meeting held on Monday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, and made available to journalists by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Femi Nubi.

The meeting, which was presided over by the state chairman, Yemi Sanusi, reportedly had in attendance members of the State Executive Committee, two leaders from each of the 20 local government areas, the 20 local government executive chairmen, all the local government party chairmen and the 236 ward chairmen.

The communiqué stated that the meeting “Resolved unequivocally that the screening of aspirants at any local government level is strictly prohibited.

“All leaders are warned to await the official guidelines from the state organ. Any person or group that jumps the gun will face severe sanctions.”

Addressing the gathering, the party chairman, Chief Sanusi, warned that “the funds recently released to ward and local government chairmen are strictly designated for the hosting of party meetings and must not be diverted for personal use.”

A clear directive for the proper management of the party’s funds was said to have been issued earlier and must be strictly complied with so as not to defeat the purpose for which the money was disbursed.

The party, while emphasising the importance of regular meetings at both the ward and local government levels, also stated that modalities for the collection of nomination forms would be announced shortly, in accordance with the reviewed timetable received from the national leadership of the party.

The meeting reportedly received contributions and observations from various stakeholders, which formed the basis of the resolutions reached.

The ward chairmen, speaking through their representatives from Ado-Odo/Ota, Ijebu Ode and Obafemi Owode local governments, raised operational concerns, which were comprehensively addressed by the party’s administrative officer, Mr Bankole.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of Odeda Local Government and the state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Folashade Adeyemo, called on all party officers to redouble their efforts at the grassroots to prepare the party adequately for the challenges of the 2027 elections.

Adeyemo praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for his solid support of the party’s ward and local government structures, urging the leadership at the grassroots to reciprocate the gesture and be more committed to strengthening the party through massive mobilisation.

Another party chieftain, Chief Mrs Ronke Ogunremi, advised local government chairmen and political appointees to also assist the party at the ward and local government levels, while Chief Mrs Iyabo Apampa stressed that financial intervention by political appointees should be made mandatory to make the party organs fully functional at the grassroots.

Meanwhile, the Organising Secretary of the party, Yemi Adelani, charged all ward and local government chairmen to exceed their current performance levels.

He acknowledged the ongoing contributions of political appointees to the party’s welfare, while stating that more support was still required at the grassroots.

Adelani formally announced that the membership e-registration exercise had been concluded and that the engagement of registration agents had therefore ended.

The stakeholders at the meeting also reaffirmed their collective commitment to the unity, discipline and electoral success of the ruling party at both the state and national levels as activities for the 2027 elections gather momentum.