APC adopts direct primary to pick candidate for Edo governorship poll

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted a direct mode of primary for the party’s governorship shadow election in Edo State slated for February 17.

The party reached the decision on Monday night at the extended Edo State stakeholders’ meeting with its NWC on the state governorship election at its national secretariat in Abuja.

This came on the heels of Senator Adams Oshiomole’s announcement of the resolve of the party to reclaim the state from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21 poll which has 29 contenders jostling for the APC ticket.

Reading the APC resolution while addressing reporters yesterday on the outcome of the stakeholders’ meeting, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary Duro Meseko said the NWC, after consultation, resolved to conduct its primary through the direct mode of election.

The resolution reads: “After due consultations with Edo State APC stakeholders, the NWC has approved direct primaries as the mode of election to be used to produce the governorship candidate of the party for the state.

“Given the large numbers of aspirants jostling for the party’s ticket in Edo State, the NWC 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 was 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 to go into the election as one family bound by progressive ideals and fully geared to reclaim the party’s mandate in Edo State.

”The meeting was attended by Edo State APC Publicity Secretary, Peter Uwadie-Igbinigie and APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim.