Edo 2024: APC settles for direct primaries, says no zoning

Amidst fears surrounding the number of aspirants who are going to be buying Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the Edo gubernatorial election, the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has appealed to all the aspirants contesting the Edo State Governorship election to bend down over and see the need for a consensus candidate saying direct primary is the best option for the party.

Ganduje made this declaration during a remark at the Edo State APC Stakeholders meeting held at the Buhari House in Abuja saying Edo used to be an APC State until it went on “sabbatical leave”, hence the need to get it back.

However, part of some of the resolutions reached at the close door meeting was that aspirants for the governorship seat should go ahead and purchase their expression of interest and Nomination forms againt the alleged embarko placed on the sales of forms.

The meeting had the Majority Leader of the party in the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvere, Senator Adams Oshiomhole former National Chairman of the party, former Senator Mathew Uroghide, all APC House of Representatives members both serving and former were in all attendance.

Dr. Ganduje said: ” Edo is an APC State. You know one of us went to sabbatical leave, and he decided to take up permanent appointment. Now we have to take Edo back. We have only one state from South South for the greatest party in Africa.

“It is not acceptable. We were able to get only Criss River State…After crossing so many rivers we succeded in getting Cross River State. But Edo State, we Isha Allah must get it”, he said.

Continuong, he explained that internal democracy is the root foundation of any democracy anywhere. He said; ” So internal democracy is very very important. 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 contests. Eventhough it’s not a crime if we have a large number. The party will get more revenue but that’s not the issue.

” 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 election. You have to believe in the doctrine of the party – become a full member of the party.

” The issue is that if we can leave it through agreement, the better for us.

” 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 stronge candidate”, he noted.

Also speaking, the former national Chairman of the party, now Senator Adams Oshiomole blame the crisis on the failure of the party to retain Edo in the last election on anti party activities of some members of the party.

He said: ” 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 Mr Chairman on this because even as a governor of Kano state you offered to lead the last campaign and even relocated. Almost all the Kano state executive council relocated to Benin for days just to ensure that the last governorship election that we won it, but unfortunately not everybody believes in party participation to the extent that you did.

” We never forget and we therefore wish to say thank you for what you did for us before. Even then you were not the party leader, you were a governor and you sacrificed executive time. Now we can see by Providence that today you are here as the chairman of the party.

” Giving your commitment the other time when you did not have any obligation, but rather than voluntarily accepting to lead and to help us win the election in Edo, now I believe you have a duty much more compelling to see that this election is won

“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”, he stated.