The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by President Bola Tinubu, has received commendations for appointing Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross Rivers State as Chairman of the APC Primary Election for Edo state.
The move comes in response to last weekend’s flawed primaries in Edo State, which was supervised by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
In a statement issued by Matthew Omoregie and Stephen Aigbe, chairman and secretary-general respectively, of the Edo APC Elders Stakeholders Forum, concerns were raised over the integrity of the primaries conducted under Governor Uzodimma’s supervision.
The forum welcomed the swift intervention of the APC leadership and the subsequent rescheduling of the primaries.
The statement emphasized the importance of upholding true democratic principles, urging Governor Otu to ensure transparency and fairness in conducting the primaries. The elders emphasized the need for historical accountability, referencing past instances where candidates were imposed on the party, leading to internal discord and eventual defections.
The elders recalled the 2016 primary elections where a candidate was allegedly imposed on the party by the then-Governor Adams Oshiomhole, resulting in subsequent challenges and defections.
They stressed the importance of allowing party members to freely choose their candidate, highlighting the detrimental effects of anti-democratic practices on party unity and electoral success.
Pledging their support for President Tinubu and his administration, the elders urged the APC leadership and the National Working Committee (NWC) to prioritize democracy in the selection of the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the September 2024 elections in Edo State. They expressed confidence in the party’s ability to secure victory in the gubernatorial election if democratic principles are upheld and candidates are not imposed.
