Oshiomhole Goes Tough As APC Primary Elections Take Different Shapes In States

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, declared that the ruling party has now learnt from its own mistakes of accommodating those he called ‘bread and butter’ politicians.

The national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has declared that the party would enforce popular participation of its members in its primaries ahead of the general election.

The Nation reports that Oshiomhole declared that no amount of intimidation would make the leadership of the party to change its stand concerning the decision.

The report said Oshiomhole spoke Oshiomhole spoke with reporters after a prolonged meeting with governors and other leaders who were at the secretariat to complain about how the primaries were conducted in their states.

The report quoted the chairman as expressing regret that the governorship primary was hijacked and electoral materials taken in some states.

Oshiomhole said, as against what happened in some states like Imo, Ogun and Adamawa, the results of the primary elections were to be announced by the returning officers and not by state party chairmen or secretaries.

The report said the governors in attendance at the meeting included Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Mohammed Sani Bello (Niger), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo).

Oshiomhole alleged that some party members seeking to hijack the electoral process in the FCT chose to sponsor people to protest at the party secretariat instead of engaging the people and participating in the direct primary in the selection of their candidates.

“FCT will have to do direct primary. I have told the committee to go back, call the stakeholders and by tomorrow morning, they will have to conduct free, fair and transparent direct primary in the FCT. This is not negotiable.

“We met with various leaders, whoever has challenges. This is like the political clinic.

“We are in a situation room and it is normal that when you are carrying out a democratic exercise across the 36 states and the FCT, you are bound to have some challenges.

“Those aspirants who are looking for short cut should know that there is no short cut to the democratic process. If you cannot withstand the rigour of communication, persuading and earning the trust and respect of the ordinary member of the APC in the FCT, maybe APC should not be your party because we are committed to popular participation.

“It is unfortunate that many people choose to opt for violence. But I am happy that the panel refused to compromise and stood their ground even in the face of intimidation.

“We are going to conduct free, fair primary in Zamfara. This process has to be done according to the rules and regulations of the APC and that means it will be done by the Electoral body and not by the state government or agents of the state government.

“Every member of the party in Zamfara state has a right and that right must be respected by the NWC to vote for any aspirant of their own choice. No amount of blackmail will make us to abandon that. That is the right thing to do.

“My mandate as chairman of the APC is to be faithful to our constitution. I swore an oath of office to be just to every member of the APC. For me, this oath of office is meant to be obeyed. We are going to set up a new committee that will conduct the election in Zamfara,” he said.