The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the adoption of the direct mode of primary election to pick its candidate for the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21.
The party has fixed February 17 for primary election to nominate its candidate while sales of forms commenced on January 10 to end on January 29.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of APC, Duro Meseko, stated these while reading a communique on the outcome of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting with stakeholders from Edo State.
The event was attended by the Publicity Secretary of APC in Edo State, Peter Uwadia-Igbinigie and Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim.
Meseko said the NWC has charged the stakeholders to consult with the 29 aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket with the aim of reducing the number so as to go in the main election as a united force.
He said that so far only one contender has obtained the forms, adding that the APC was more concerned with victory than the money accruing from the sale of forms.
Meseko also said the party has not zoned the position of governorship to any part of the State, hence people from the three Senatorial Districts in Edo State can contest its ticket.
To avoid litigations by dissatisfied aspirants after the primary election, it has been resolved that another form be attached to the nomination forms in which contenders will sign an undertaking not to take legal action.
The communique reads, “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.
“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.”
Friday Olokor
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