The All Progressives Congress (APC) says direct primary method will be adopted for the
conduct of its governorship primary election in Kogi State on April 14.
The party stated this in a letter it sent to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja
The party’s decision was contained in the letter dated April 6, 2023 and was sent to the INEC by the Acting National Chairman of APC, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
Part of the letter reads “We refer to our earlier letter dated 25th January 2023, with reference no: APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/023/191 wherein we notified the Commission of the mode of the primary election for the conduct of the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi State.
“However, our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reviewed the modalities for the conduct of the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi State and has therefore resorted to adopting the DIRECT mode of the primary election instead of the Indirect Mode as earlier communicated.
“The date for the conduct of the primary election remains Friday 14th April 2023.
“Following the above, there shall be a Special Congress to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi State scheduled for Saturday, 15th April 2023.”
However, observers, believed that the adoption of direct primary method was informed by deluge of protests from aspirants and critical party stakeholders, who faulted the delegates list forwarded to the party’s national headquarters.
Coincidentally, a federal high court sitting in Abuja today, Wednesday, April 12, 2023 nullified the delegate list prepared to be used for the conduct of the primary election by the state working committee of the APC.
Aspirants that have been screened and cleared by the party to contest the governorship primary election are 17.
They include the incumbent state Deputy Governor Edward Onoja; Senator Smart Adeyemi and Abdulkareem Asuku, the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello.
Others are the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka; Prince Shauibu Abubakar Audu;
Dr Sanusi Ohiare; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Salami Momodu O. Deedat and Usman Ododo, Auditor General, Local Government.
Also contesting are Senator Oseni Yakubu, Halima l. Alfa, Momoh Jibrin, Yusuf Yakubu Okala, Hon. Asiru Idris, Prof. Stephen Ikani Ocheni, Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu, Idachaba Friday and David A. Jimoh. (vitalnewsngr.com)
