The All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to sanction members behind the conduct of parallel congresses in some states on Saturday.

The ruling party described the parallel congresses held in some states as “mere naming ceremonies”, borrowing the phrase from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos.

The Star recalls that parallel congresses were held in Lagos, Osun, Ogun, Kwara, Abia, and Akwa Ibom, among other states.

National Secretary, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement on Sunday, stated that the party will take lawful measures against any person or interest sabotaging the collective party’s interest.

His words: “In adherence to internal democracy and the charge by the leader of our great party, President Muhammadu Buhari that the party be returned to the people, card-carrying party members came out en masse to elect executives who will take charge of APC affairs across the states for the next four years.

“However, our attention has been drawn to reports of so-called and purported “parallel” Congresses. To borrow the phrase of one of our esteemed governors, such “parallel” Congresses are mere naming ceremonies.

“The purported “parallel” Congresses are futile activities and very strange to the party, our Constitution and the guidelines for the conduct of the state and other Congresses.

“Only exercises conducted by duly inaugurated State Congress Committees are recognised by the party. The APC leadership will not hesitate to take adequate and lawful measures against any person or interest sabotaging the collective party’s interest and efforts to achieve peace and unity in our great party.

“Where contestations exist, adequate conflict resolution measures have been put in place to address them. The party has Appeal committees for every Congress.

Akpanudoedehe said there are measures in place to reconcile aggrieved party members.

“Recall also that the party has inaugurated the National Reconciliation Committee under the chairmanship of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, former Governor of Nasarawa State to reconcile all differences among stakeholders and party members,” he said.

The ruling party congratulates its teeming members on the “successful conduct of the party’s State Congresses across the country.”