…Ganduje sue for internal democracy
By Joy Odor
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) has on Tuesday announces the approval of DIRECT PRIMARIES as the mode of election to be used to produce the Governorship candidate of the Party for Edo state.
The NWC while announcing the resolution reached after due consultations with Edo State APC stakeholders meeting on Monday night at a press conference by the Edo State APC Publicity Secretary, Barr. Peter Uwadie-Igbinigie and National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim said the resolution is in view of the large numbers of aspirants jostling for the Party’s ticket in Edo State urged the stakeholders to unite in trimming the number of aspirants.
The NWC urged all the Governorship aspirants to exhibit Party discipline and patriotism by shunning the attitude of running to the Courts at every opportunity instead of exploring internal dispute resolution mechanisms, especially after Party Primaries.
It resolved that for the smooth running of the Party, all members should ensure strict compliance with their financial obligations to the Party, in line with the Party’s Constitution.
The NWC also resolved that for want of time, the E-registration exercise of the Party for fresh members be conducted after the Primaries in order not to derail the smooth conduct of the Primaries.
The stakeholders were urged by the NWC to promote unity within the ranks of the Party in order to go into the election as one family bound by progressive ideals and fully geared to reclaim the Party’s mandate in Edo State.
Recall that earlier at the opening of the meeting, the APC National Chairman, All Progressives, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has insisted that Edo Gubernatorial stakeholders should maintain internal democracy, deepen and widen it for unity of the Party, as they tussle to clinch the party’s ticket.
He expressed the need to move towards having a party ideology not be an ordinary political association whereby everybody can come in just to win an election.
APC Chairma advocate to be transparent and at the same time to also adopt a guided democracy where the party can discuss issues to limit the number of contestants.
“We have to improve our internal democracy – we have to deepen and widen it. We need to understand the party and its manifesto; its rules and regulations. We need to understand its philosophy.
“We need to move towards having a party ideology so that we will not be an ordinary political association whereby everybody can come in just to win an election.
“We have to be transparent and at the same time we have to also adopt a guided democracy where we can discuss issues so that we limit if possible the number of contestants.
“It’s not a crime for many aspirants to be vying for Edo governorship seat under the platform of APC, Ganduje simply stated, “the issue is that if we can leave it through agreement, the better for us. Some of the aspirants may not be the best candidate for the party at the moment.
“There are some who know that at this material time, maybe because of the location; maybe because of some antecedents, they may not be the best candidate at the moment.
“That doesn’t mean they will never be a good candidate but through that concensus we will be able to narrow down so that we have strong candidate”he stressed.
Ganduje assured that APC will take Edo State back come September 2024.
Speaking, the former governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole informed that democracy based on popular participation might be more difficult but cannot be faulted, rather allows them to build consensus.
Senator Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District affirmed that they are determined to reclaim Edo State even do they lost it due to several factors some of which were caused by some APC elements.
“It allows us to have conflict and in the end, provided we understand that the majority will have their way while the minority has their say.
We are particularly determined, as you can see everybody here has a robust past and even present. We are determined to reclaim Edo State. I used the word reclaim because Edo is ours. We lost it due to several factors some of which were caused by some APC elements.
“Nobody needs to lecture Chairman Ganduje on this because even as a governor of Kano state you offered to lead the last campaign and even relocated.
“On our part, we have tried to initiate dialogue among our aspirants. It is no secret, that at the time we had the dialogue, I think they (aspirants) were 27.
“I learned it has increased to 29 now. Tbe process is ongoing, and the struggle continues. So we are looking forward to a healthy celebration. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for your leadership and your sacrifice. We pray that all you have invested in this effort will lead you to have another state under your leadership” he said.
