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By Lawrence Agbo
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended its decision to substitute some candidates following its governorship primaries, insisting that no aspirant was imposed and that all changes resulted from a transparent internal appeal process.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the APC acted only after reviewing more than 720 petitions submitted by aggrieved aspirants who participated in the primaries.
According to Morka, the petitions were examined by appeal committees before their recommendations were forwarded to the National Working Committee (NWC), which carried out a further review before approving changes where necessary.
“We received over 720 petitions from those who contested in the election. The appeal committees reviewed them, made recommendations, and the National Working Committee also reassessed those reports before arriving at the decisions. These are legitimate outcomes of our primaries,” he said.
Morka rejected claims that the party breached the Electoral Act by replacing candidates after the primaries, arguing that a primary election is a process that includes the resolution of post-election disputes.
He explained that the appeal mechanism is an integral part of the party’s nomination process and not an afterthought designed to favour particular individuals.
The APC spokesman also dismissed allegations that individuals who neither purchased nomination forms nor participated in the primaries were eventually handed party tickets.
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“I’m not aware of any case where someone who did not buy forms, was not screened or did not participate in the primaries was given a ticket. If such a case exists, I will investigate it,” he stated.
Addressing concerns over dissatisfaction among unsuccessful aspirants, Morka acknowledged that internal contests naturally produce winners and losers but said the party was engaging those affected to reassure them that the process was fair.
He stressed that the APC’s responsibility was to uphold due process rather than satisfy every aspirant seeking the party’s ticket.
Responding to claims that the review process was manipulated to favour certain political interests, Morka insisted that irregularities can occur during primaries and that the appeal process exists to correct genuine grievances.
He questioned suggestions that the APC would deliberately undermine the wishes of its members or act against the interests of serving governors without justification.
On the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 general election, Morka dismissed suggestions that the APC was anxious despite its electoral dominance, pointing to its victories in recent by-elections as evidence of continued public support.
“We are working hard to win the next election, just as we have won the recent by-elections. The idea that we are afraid of the opposition is utterly ridiculous,” he said.
