The All Progressives Congress in Kwara State on Wednesday conducted its ward congresses across all 193 political wards in the state.

Party members gathered in large numbers across various wards, including Adewole, Oju Ekun Zarumi and Alanamu in Ilorin West; Ibagun in Ilorin East; Alapa in Asa; Share in Ifelodun; and Okuta in Baruten, among others, to participate in the exercise.

The party adopted the affirmation method to retain most of the incumbent executives in recognition of their performance, except in a few areas where zoning considerations and other factors applied.

Speaking with journalists, the State Chairman of the APC, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said the new ward leaders emerged through affirmation, describing the exercise as the beginning of a transition process and consolidation of the party's structure.

"This is the ward congress of the party which takes place in all 193 wards in the state. So far, we have not heard any adverse reports. The idea behind affirmation is to make the exercise less rancorous," he said.

"It is an affirmative congress because our people are supposed to be carried on from where they are, but it is a constitutional responsibility of the party to go through the process."

Fagbemi commended party members and leaders for their support, solidarity and peaceful conduct.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Congress Committee and Deputy State Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, said participants were duly screened before taking part in the exercise. He described reports from various wards as peaceful and encouraging.

The Secretary of the Screening Committee, Oche Muhammed, said the list of aspirants had been properly screened ahead of the elections into various ward offices.

"We were given a list of screened and accredited party faithful who vied for various ward offices. Elections have been conducted peacefully in various ward centres. We have received some results while awaiting others," he said.

In Ilorin West Local Government Area, the APC Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Tejidini, said reports from all 12 wards indicated that the exercise was smooth and rancour-free.

"We reaffirmed all our chairmen and other party executives. All stakeholders, including elders, women and youth, took part. That is why we see jubilation everywhere because it was a collective decision," he said.

He appreciated Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq>, the state party leadership, political appointees, members of the national and state assemblies, council chairmen and other stakeholders for their roles.

Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government, Alhaji AbdulRahman Babatunde Ladan, also described the congress as peaceful and successful across the wards in the council.

"There was no rancour among us as the exercise was only the reaffirmation of existing executives. We thank our leader, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for creating an enabling environment for the exercise to take place peacefully," he said.

Reports from the Southern and Northern Senatorial Districts similarly indicated that the congresses were conducted smoothly.