The All Progressives Congress (APC) has hinted of its determination to sweep the forthcoming off season gubernatorial elections in three southern States , starting with Edo and Ondo later in November and Anambra State early next year.
Nze Chidi Duru, Deputy National Organizing Secretary and member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party dropped the hint during an interview in Abuja, stressing that victory in Edo and Ondo States is the minimum requirement the party needed to up its stake in the coming elections.
He said the NWC is working harder to avoid needless errors that cost it victory in Edo four years by ensuring that it conducts credible primaries that will throw up the right gubernatorial candidate capable of winning election.
Recall that the APC under Senator Adams Oshiomhole denied Governor Godwin Obaseki return ticket in the primary under controversial circumstances, forcing him to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he won second term.
Hon Duru, a former member of the House of representatives under the PDP from Anambra State said the APC has learnt its lessons not to field candidate that wins primaries but fails to inspire the electorates at the polls. He insists that the party is open to free and transparent primaries this time around.
“There will be an election not just in Anambra next year but there will be an election in the next six to seven months, particularly in Edo state and Ondo state and after that it will be the off season election in Anambra state.
” And the party is working harder to see and make sure that as a minimum we will win the two states that are available this year. Everything is being done, one is to make sure that we have a credible primaries that will throw up our gubernatorial candidate in both elections, whether it is in Edo state and Ondo state.
“What this supposed to taught us is, unless we have a candidate that appeals to the people, then you will not be able to find that appeal that would attract the electorate to vote for the candidate in the ultimate election.
“It is easy to win a primary election because you can conjecture some platforms on the basis of which a favoured candidate can emerge but thereafter that candidate will now have to face the electorate. So as a principle, the National Working Committee (NWC) has come to that conclusion that we must allow a free, fair, transparent primaries to throw the candidate of the party in the two election in question.
In this regard he said the party would soon hold a meeting with stakeholders of the party in Edo State to appeal to them on the need to produce candidate that can win votes.
“you must have read the recently released schedule of election time table for Edo state and the primaries will hold in February and we are holding a stakeholders’ meeting with all the gladiators, the stakeholders, the critical stakeholders in Edo state on Monday at 8pm and I am sure you will be informed of that meeting where the party will address the stakeholders and inform the stakeholders of the need and necessity to have a free and fair election where a proper candidate and candidate that is appealing will emerge at our congress.
“It’s yet to be seen but if what we are thinking and the way we are working is anything to go by, I think that APC will win the two elections coming up this year.”
On the allegation that APC is propping defectee, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah for the Anambra governorship ticket in next year’s off circle election, Nze During rubbish the claim insisting the decision to ensure credible congresses and primaries going forward is non negotiable
“A decision must be made clearly and I believe that it must be understood. Anambra state has not taken a decision on who the flag bearer of the party will be. Anambra state will not be different from every other state where the gladiators will be giving the opportunity to compete in a free fair, transparent atmosphere. Whether it’s a current member of the party or a new entrant in the party, there will be a primary election.
“What is important and what is constant in the minds of party members in Anambra state is the fact that we want to win the forthcoming election in Anambra State. That is uppermost in the minds of Anambra APC members and we are working towards that and we are working harder to achieve that and we will find that candidate that will help us win that election.
“Nothing has been decided, nothing will be micro managed, nobody has been identified as candidate of the party ahead of time. There will be a primary election and a candidate that will be arrived at on the basis of that will be a candidate that enjoy the support of the ranks and files of members of the party in Anambra state.” he stressed
Read the full article here
