Dipo Olowookere
A group in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State known as APC Mandate Defenders, has urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party not to succumb to requests of some party faithful to change its decision to use indirect primary to select its candidate for the November 2019 governorship election in the state.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Ali Mohammed, the group said those against decision of the NWC were insignificant.
The leadership of the APC under Mr Adams Oshiomhole had announced the adoption of indirect primary for the August 29 primary election in Kogi State.
However, some politicians in the state chapter of the party kicked against this, calling for the adoption of a direct primary to pick a flagbearer. They alleged that the leaders of the party in Abuja were trying to impose Governor Yahaya Bello on them, warning that he might cost the party to position in Kogi State if he allowed to emerge as APC candidate.
But in the statement, the APC Mandate Defenders said the NWC of the party should ignore those opposed to indirect primary.
They said those against this “are people who have not contributed anything to the success of the party in the state in the last four years, we have decided to make this necessary intervention.”
They said the national leadership of the APC should ask these “folks their stake in the party since 2015 and what role they played to ensure the victory of the party in the state in the last general elections?”
“What evidence do they have to show that they are up to date financial members of the party in the state?
“What evidence do they have to show that they are aspirants of the party? Have they bought their nomination and expression of interest forms? Or does posting of posters makes one a party aspirant?” the group wants the NWC to ask those against the party’s directive.
“As long as none of them have purchased the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms, the only aspirant known to APC members and supporters in Kogi State is Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
“If Gov. Bello could deliver 100 percent victory to APC in Kogi State during the last general elections without the support of these dissidents, then Yahaya Bello will repeat same in the coming November 16 governorship election in the state.
“We therefore urge the national leadership of the party not to contemplate reversing its earlier decision to adopt indirect primary for Kogi State as APC will win a landslide victory in the state,” the group said.
