The primary elections of the party have been riddled with complaints and eventual protests. Most of the protesters claim the leadership of party were unfair while others targeted the National Chairman and called for his immediate resignation.
In a reaction to the complaints, the spokesman of the APC, Mr Yekini Nabena said, “That is why it is a called democracy. You cannot satisfy both sides at the same time.
There must always be a winner, like it or not. There would always be complaints, irrespective of who won the primaries. So, the party is going to set up a committee, to talk to all the aggrieved parties, so that we can come together as a family.”
While reacting to the allegation that the NWC abused its powers by imposing candidates, Nabena said the outcome of the committee’s report would determine the veracity of the claim, adding that the APC would consider the report dispassionately.
Some of the states hit with protests and irregularities in the primary elections include Niger, Lagos, Ogun and Adamawa State.
In Niger State, winners of the senatorial primary election threatened the party that it would be kicked out of the state if the party’s leaders attempts to replace their names with incumbent senators. Senators David Umaru (Niger East), Aliyu Sabi Abdulahi (Niger North) and Mustapha Sani (Niger South) got affected in the exercise.
Muhammad Enagi Bima, who spoke on behalf of the aspirants yesterday in Abuja, said “APC should be ready to forfeit Niger State to any opposition party, if it fails to affirm the mandate given to them.”
In the case of Lagos state, the reelection bid of incumbent governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, was scuppered by the party when Babajide Sanwo-Olu was massively voted for in the controversial primary election which was first canceled and later validated by the NWC.
Mr Fouad Oki, a leader of the factional executive of the party in Lagos State, in a phone interview said: “APC has just exhibited impunity greater than what it accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of. Oshiomhole is a leopard that can never change his skin. He did not show leadership in his state, Edo.
“The way he handled the Lagos primaries was a shame. He colluded with Bola Tinubu. I am waiting to see how they will translate the 1.9 million voters they claim to have in the state for President Buhari in 2019.”
He also alleged that the national leader, Tinubu, and Oshiomhole were acting a script that might work against Buhari’s interest in the next general elections.
A former national legal adviser of the party, Dr. Muiz Banire, spoke further on the Lagos State primary.
“It was a rude shock that the chairman of the governorship primary, Clement Ebri, affirmed the result of the exercise, less than 12 hours after he had admitted in a live broadcast that no elections were held“, he said.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo however held a closed-door meeting with the Adamawa State governor, Jubrilla Bindow, yesterday in a bid to quickly resolve of the crisis caused by the primary elections ahead of the general elections.
A source also revealed that the presidency is uncomfortable with the relationship between Bindow and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) standard-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and fears that the governor might work for the opposition party.
Bindow evaded reporters after the meeting by exiting through a rear door at the vice president’s wing.
Ogun State’s Governor Ibikunle Amosun also met President Buhari behind closed doors yesterday. The visit followed a separate meeting he had on Thursday with Buhari and Osinbajo over political developments in his state.
The panel sent to the state by the National Working Committee (NWC) had on Wednesday night declared Prince Dapo Abiodun the governorship candidate. The declaration however was made after the state chapter of the APC had already declared Amosun’s preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, as the party’s choice.
Amosun, at the weekend, had accused some interest groups of misinforming Buhari about the political equation in his state, vowing his candidate would triumph when the chips are down.
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