2019: Kwara APC members protest, call for consensus primary

CONCERNED All Progressives Congress (APC) Foundation, a political group within APC in Kwara state has kicked against the direct or indirect mode of picking the party’s governorship candidate in Sunday’s primary.

Members of the group, who staged a peaceful protested in Ilorin at the weekend said that they preferred adoption of consensus and zoning arrangement in the forthcoming party primaries at all levels in the state.

Scores of the group stormed the APC party secretariat along Ilorin-Jebba road with placards denouncing direct or indirect primaries at all levels in the state.

On Wednesday this week, some elders of the party had settled for the direct primaries mode in the choice of party’s candidates.

Addressing reporters, spokesperson of the group, Prince Saheed Popoola said that, “direct primary would have been a better option but its demerits are equally starring us in the face. We have discovered through our interaction with the good people of the state that, neither direct or indirect mode of primary will suit our party in Kwara state.

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“This is due largely to our peculiarity, as a state where the hands of one man are seen in almost everywhere, we need to be vigilant.

“We heard from reliable sources that Senate President Bukoka Saraki purchased nomination forms in excess of N300 million for his cronies for all offices to be contested during the primaries in the coming days. For example, if we decide to conduct an indirect primary, he will push cash through his cronies in our midst and buy as many delegates over to secure them party flags. We learnt that was the undoing of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.

“We have evidence that some imported elements from Osun, Oyo and other neighbouring states participated in the just concluded registration exercise in the state. We are investigating how our membership forms were duplicated in some places. It is clear from the foregoing that either direct or indirect mode of primary- the party nomination process is open to compromise.

“The recent harmonisation process that produced executives from ward, local government to the state level has shown that a well planned, structured and programmed consensus mode of the primary which is supported by the party’s constitution, we can seamlessly produce all our flag bearers.”

Prince Popoola, the only surviving APC legislator in the Kwara state House of Assembly, also urged the national leadership of the party allow APC foundation members to produce the governorship candidate, adding that the deputy ticket be given to the PDP group that recently joined the party.

“This arrangement will help stem unnecessary bickering within the party. It will also foster unity among party members. This is what everyone will consider: a win-win strategy,” he added.

The former chairman of Offa local government area of the state, equally wanted the Kwara North senatorial district to produce the next governor of the state.

“it is politically expedient and morally correct too to allow the district to have a shot at the number one seat in the state. The North should be allowed to produce the governor of Kwara state in 2019. Our party can do this as a progressive platform”, he said.