APC adopts direct primary for Edo governorship, vows to reclaim the state

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved to elect the party’s candidate for the upcoming governorship election in Edo state through direct primary.

The position of the party was announced on Tuesday following the stakeholders meeting earlier held on Monday night till early hours of Tuesday.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Duro Mesoko, said the decision became imperative so that the party can have a united front at the main polls coming up in September.

He urged aspirants to prioritize patriotism to the party over personal interest.

“After due consultations with Edo State APC stakeholders, the NWC has approved DIRECT PRIMARIES as the mode of election to be used to produce the Governorship candidate of the Party for the state. 

“In view of the large numbers of aspirants jostling for the Party’s ticket in Edo State, the NWC urged the stakeholders to unite in trimming the number of aspirants. 

“The NWC urged all the Governorship aspirants to exhibit Party discipline and patriotism by shunning  the attitude of running to the Courts at every opportunity instead of exploring internal dispute resolution mechanisms, especially after Party Primaries.

“It was resolved that for the smooth running of the Party, all members should ensure strict compliance with their financial obligations to the Party, in line with the Party’s Constitution,” Meseko said.

On E-registration, he announced that the party has resolved to put it on hold till after the primaries due to time constraints.

“The NWC also resolved that for want of time, the E-registration exercise of the Party for fresh members be conducted after the Primaries in order not to derail the smooth conduct of the Primaries.

“The stakeholders were urged by the NWC  to promote unity within the ranks of the Party in order to go into the election as one family bound by progressive ideals and fully geared to reclaim the Party’s mandate in Edo State.”

Vows to reclaim the State

Meanwhile, former National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomole in his remarks during the stakeholders meeting had earlier said Edo belongs to APC and It’s fully determined to take it back.

He noted that the party lost to the opposition in 2020 due to many factors, part of which was as a result of the division within its camp.

He said “Democracy based on popular participation might be more difficult but cannot be faulted. It allows us to build consensus. It allows us to have conflict and in the end, provided we understand that the majority will have their way while the minority has their say.

“We are particularly determined, as you can see everybody here has a robust past and even present. We are determined to reclaim Edo State. I used the word reclaim because Edo is ours. We lost it due to several factors, some of which were caused by some APC elements.” Senator Oshiomole said.

Appreciating the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Umar Ganduje, for the important role played to ensure APC’s victory in Edo in the last gubernatorial election, Oshiomole said he has no doubt in his capacity as the chairman to ensure that Edo is added to his political kitty.

“Nobody needs to lecture Mr Chairman on this because even as a governor of Kano state you offered to lead the last campaign and even relocated. Almost all the Kano state executive council relocated to Benin for days just to ensure that the last governorship election that we won it, but unfortunately not everybody believes in party participation to the extent that you did. 

“We never forget and we therefore wish to say thank you for what you did for us before. Even then you were not the party leader, you were a governor and you sacrificed executive time. Now we can see by Providence that today you are here as the chairman of the party.

“Giving your commitment the other time when you did not have any obligation, but rather than voluntarily accepting to lead and to help us win the election in Edo, now I believe you have a duty much more compelling to see that this election is won.

“On our part, we have tried to initiate dialogue among our aspirants. It is no secret, that at the time we had the dialogue, I think they (aspirants) were 27. I learned it has increased to 29 now. The process is ongoing, and the struggle continues. So we are looking forward to a healthy celebration.

“Mr. Chairman, I thank you for your leadership and your sacrifice. We pray that all you have invested in this effort will lead you to have another state under your leadership.” He concluded.

Reacting, Dr. Ganduje reiterated his commitment to making APC a party with a clear-cut objectives, adding that he’s leaving no stone unturned to increase the party’s followership.

“Since we were sworn in as the new or reformed NWC, we said it would not be business as usual because our party as a progressive party is supposed to be a party with clear-cut objectives.

“A party that will increase its followership in terms of governors in the federation; terms of members of the National Assembly – Senators and House of Representatives members. To do that, we have to work throughout the year.

“Traditionally, especially in developing countries, political parties are very weak institutions. But we want to make APC a very strong institution.

“Therefore, according to our programme, we are working throughout the year, not until when there are elections, and after elections the party becomes dead. We have studied political parties in developed countries and we know how strong they are as institutions.

Speaking on internal democracy, former Kano governor stated: “We have to improve our internal democracy – we have to deepen and widen it. We need to understand the party and its manifesto…its rules and regulations. We need to understand its philosophy. We need to move towards having a party ideology so that we will not be an ordinary political association whereby everybody can come in just to win the election. You have to believe in the doctrine of the party – become a full member of the party.

“To widen it, we need to increase our followership. So internal democracy is very very important. We have to be transparent and at the same time, we have to also adopt a guided democracy where we can discuss issues so that we limit if possible the number of contests. Even though it’s not a crime if we have a large number. The party will get more revenue but that’s not the issue.

“The issue is that if we can leave it through agreement, the better for us.

“Some know that at this material time, maybe because of the location; maybe because of some antecedents, they may not be the best candidate at the moment.

“That doesn’t mean they will never be a good candidate but through that consensus, we will be able to narrow down so that we have candidates.”

He further buttressed Oshiomole’s claim that Edo belongs to APC and they are ready to reclaim it.

“Edo is an APC State. You know one of us went on sabbatical leave, and he decided to take up a permanent appointment. 

“Now we have to take Edo back. We have only one state from the South-South for the greatest party in Africa…it’s not acceptable. We were able to get only Cross River State…After crossing so many rivers we succeeded in getting Cross River State. But Edo State, we Insha Allah must get it.”

In attendance at the briefing were the Edo State APC Publicity Secretary, Barr. Peter Uwadie-Igbinigie and Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim.

 

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