Oshiomhole backs Governor Bello on indirect primaries

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6 years ago

Oshiomhole and Bello

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved Indirect Primaries to pick its candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi state.

A statement signed last night by the party national publicity secretary, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu said the approval was given after a meeting of the NWC on Friday where a formal request from the Kogi State executive and stakeholders in preference for the Indirect Primary was considered and deliberated on.

The party statement was however silent on the stakeholders which preferred indirect primaries as the state chapter has been polarised into factions.
Tribune Online findings, however, revealed that a faction of the party instigated by the incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello who is seeking a fresh ticket has passed a resolution in Lokoja, demanding for indirect primaries.

ALSO READ: Kogi APC: I will dislodge Bello with or without direct primary — Seidu

Further checks revealed that about 21 governorship aspirants on the APC platform at a press briefing in Abuja last month rejected the indirect option adopted by Governor Bello and his faction of the state chapter of the party.

Speaking under the aegis of Kogi APC stakeholders forum, Senator Alex Kadri who spoke with newsmen expressed concern that the APC could lose the state to the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) if Governor Bello was allowed to manipulate the process as he noted that the indirect primary was subject to manipulation by Governor Bello.

The APC aspirants maintained that Governor Bello would be a hard sell to the average Kogi electorate.
Amongst the aspirants in attendance were Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, Alhaji Aliyu Zakari Jiya, Dr Aminu Musa Audu, Professor Seidu Mohammed Oga, Engineer Kashim Ali and 16 others.

But the party in the statement issued last night however maintained ” that the APC Constitution which was reemphasized by a decision of National Executive Committee (NEC) provides for three modes of primary election to elect Party candidates – Indirect, Direct Primaries and consensus – depending on the peculiarities of the state and preferences of the stakeholders in respective elections.”

Onilu further revealed that “the Party’s timetable for the sales of forms and conduct of primaries will be announced in due course. “