From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State have warned against the “indirect primaries” system in choosing the flag bearer for the Anambra governorship election scheduled for later this year.
The party members, speaking under the platform of the Anambra APC Stakeholders Forum (AASF), said that adopting the “indirect primaries” system is a recipe for electoral disaster that will ruin the victory chances of the party at the polls.
The AASF, in a statement signed by Chief Hyacinth Okonkwo, raised the alarm that some individuals within the party are plotting to destabilise the party and its chances of victory in the coming election by pushing for “indirect primaries” in the election.
“In addition to that, we have received credible intelligence that a certain unnamed governorship aspirant within the party is trying to subvert the internal democracy of the party by offering some huge financial inducement (allegedly $3m bribe) to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC so the NWC can impose ‘indirect primaries’ for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Anambra State.
“This desperate move is aimed at rigging the process in his favour, manipulating party structures, and denying the people of Anambra the opportunity to choose their candidate, freely and fairly.
“This individual, in his arrogance, has boasted openly that the NWC is now on his side due to the illicit funds he might have deployed. He also alleged that the National Chairman of APC will not conduct any delegate election, but will use his delegate list to deliver him as the governorship candidate of APC.
“We categorically reject these alleged criminal tendencies, and will not allow the soul of our party to be sold to the highest bidder. We insist that such an aspirant should be disqualified immediately from the race as his actions are a direct affront to the integrity of the APC, and the democratic principles that our great party stands for.”
The party chieftain thus called on the APC national leadership, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other well-meaning members of the party to resist the attempted coup against democracy and ensure that the primary election in Anambra State is conducted transparently, through a direct or consensus process that reflects the true will of party members.
“Surprisingly, this culprit is a very new entrant into the party, and because of his fear of not getting the APC ticket, he has resorted to bribing his way in. Any attempt to impose ‘indirect primaries’ as a result of corrupt inducement will be vehemently resisted by party members, and the good people of Anambra. We shall mobilise to ensure that Anambra APC does not become a playground for corruption and manipulation.”
He urged all aspirants to engage in issue-based campaigns rather than resorting to criminal acts of bribery and electoral fraud. “The APC must not become a party where money determines leadership. Integrity, competence, and the will of the people must always prevail.”