My fears for APC candidate emerging victorious –Lukman

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman North-West, Salihu Moh Lukman, has claimed that the possibility of his party emerging victorious in the September Edo State governorship election will depend on the ability and capacity of the party’s candidate, Monday Okpebholo, uniting with the other 11 aspirants and leader of the party in the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Lukman, in a statement he issued in Abuja yesterday, emphasised that the strong determinant for Okpebholo winning the main election will be his quick resolution of his relationship with all the other 11 APC aspirants.

He further argued that what will be the relationship between Okpebholo and Comrade Oshiomhole, who was alleged to have supported Dennis Idahosa based on which the governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma, allegedly attempted to manipulate his imposition.

The former Director General APC Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), however, expressed fresh fears that even if the relationship with the aspirants and Oshiomhole becomes cordial, Okpebholo will equally meet strong competition from the candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olumide Akpata SAN and Mr. Asue Ighodalo respectively.

“It was quite worrisome that the APC was almost set up for another electoral disaster in Edo State. Without attempting to overlook one of the critical challenges of political party development in Nigeria, which is about instituting transparently democratic process of candidate selection.

process within our political parties, it is a source of pride that the APC NWC under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was able to quickly arrest the drift, which would have confirmed the APC as an undemocratic party.

“It is quite commendable that the leadership of the APC was able to retrace its steps by first reorganising the Primary Election Committee and then allowing a level playing field to guarantee the emergence of a popular candidate based on majority votes.

“Unlike previous cases whereby the Primary Election Committee practically allocates votes to aspirants and declare an anointed person as the winner, it is also commendable that the reorganised APC Primary Election Committee under the leadership of  Bassey Otu chose the path of honour by allowing fair contest to produce the winner of the primary.