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- Says those protesting over e-transmission are ignorant
- Adds no inducement or coercion to defectors
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From Idu Jude, Abuja
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Honourable Stephen Abraham Ajiya, has boasted that the FCT Area Council election coming up on Saturday is a mere formality, as the party is sure of complete victory.
Hon Ajiya, who spoke exclusively to Daily Sun in Abuja preparatory to the poll, indicated that candidates from main opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have not only stepped down but also declared membership of the ruling APC at various area councils.
He said, for instance, that prior to the election, Hon Julius Adamu, former member and PDP flag bearer, stepped down and also joined the APC with all his councillors and supporters.
At the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the main flag bearer for the election, Hon Zadna Dintani, also stepped down for the APC candidate on Wednesday in Abuja with a declaration before the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
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He further assured that there are going to be more step-downs and more defections to the APC owing to entrenched people-oriented projects carried out by the administration.
“As I told you, we are still waiting with open hands to welcome the remaining opposition candidates from other area councils to fall in line. And let me also tell you that with or without, the APC will win. It is obvious if you are a follower of area council elections in the FCT. As it stands, only one area council is not of the APC, and that is likely to happen on or before Saturday. Take, for instance, in the AMAC, as a Gbagyi man, I can testify, and everyone can see how the city has been transformed by the team of Barrister Wike and Christopher Maikalangu. And such goes to other area councils like Bwari, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Abaji. The new trend of massive infrastructural development speaks for the party, and that is why one can see massive support and defection. If not, did this kind of thing happen in 2023? What actually happened that made the ruling party not win the FCT? So, elections here are grassroot not money Politics. So it is a thing of pride to some of us who followed him from the PDP to the APC to see that his achievements are more remarkable than those of his predecessors. And we are calling on all indigenes of the FCT and residents to come out in mass vote for him for a second tenure.”
Ajiya, however, debunked the rumour of council traditional chiefs being bought over by the ruling party, dismissing the allegation as a political gimmick. “I can tell you that politicians are like that. Once they found themselves in a tight corner, they started smelling rats. And if not, that you didn’t ask me, I never knew that APGA was in the race for the FCT polls. I don’t even know who their candidates are at various area councils. And don’t forget that this is a democracy where votes speak. Even the Chiefs have one vote each, so with or without them, political parties can as well speak to the people and have their votes.”
Further highlighting, he argued that even the FCT chiefs would like to have better candidates voted in because the 2023 experience has taught bitter people. “Take, for instance, choosing Sen. Ireti Kingibe, as a non-indigene, who has contributed nothing since her election in the National Assembly. Nobody sees her; she is not accessible; she does no work and cares for nobody, and maybe that’s why the indigenous people are angry, but apart from that, how could anyone in their right frame of mind think of voting for any other party after all that the APC did in the FCT? So if anyone fails to vote for the party’s performance, then it will become of indigenes.”
Meanwhile, Hon Ajiya has denied that there is any cohesion or financial inducement to defectors owing to the last-minute cross-carpeting. He attributed it to the massive implementation of party manifestos, which underscores performance and good leadership. “I don’t think this is true. Because I happen to know all these council chairmen. At least if there was anything like that, they could have extended some to me. Moreover, I don’t think a fellow council chairman can bribe another to step down for him. Because they all get equal allocation. So what is it that anyone can give that was not at your disposal as a chairman? I think it was all about brotherhood and working for a common purpose. I listened to the speech of the PDP man during his step-down ceremony, and he stated that he did it because of the common Gbagyi agenda. And maybe he doesn’t want this Senator Ireti Kingibe kind of leadership, where the people she represents do not have access to her.
“On the INEC E-transmission of results, she blamed those protesting over the Senate’s stands, calling them ignorant of the dotted lines. I don’t think those who are protesting the dotted lines read well. And in my understanding, the clauses are clear. The IRev is said to transmit results, but there must be alternatives should the IRev fail. But the protesters said no, that it must be only e-television. And to be candid, who can guarantee a steady network throughout the elections? Even when the network providers for ordinary phone calls fail every minute. Does it mean we should postpone the elections when network providers fail?” he said.
