Ahead of the April 14 governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, the Audu/ Faleke political group has rejected the list of delegates compiled to participate in the election.
The group is demanding a direct primary election to allow a level playing ground for all the 17 aspirants contesting the governorship primary.
The Leader of the group, Senator Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja, on Tuesday in Abuja, stormed the national headquarters of the party to table their demand before the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
He submitted a petition in which the group alleged that the process adopted for the conduct of the primary has been compromised.
Ocheja said the method is capable of putting the party in jeopardy in the main governorship election scheduled to hold on November 11.
The group totally rejected a list of delegates sent to the party’s headquarters by the state executive council of the party, saying that the delegates were not duly elected through a congress as stipulated by constitution of the ruling party.
It alleged that names of serving civil servants were compiled and sent to the party as delegates list for the primary.
“We are here on this occasion to humbly and most respectfully draw your attention to the fact that the proposed Kogi state APC Governorship primary process which has resulted in multiple litigations is highly flawed and compromised, a situation which has never been associated with your leadership.
“May we also note that nobody should deceive the National Working Committee of the APC that the list of delegates submitted to the National Working Committee (NWC) for the 2023 Kogi Governorship Primary did not emanate from any Delegate Congress as none was held anywhere in the state.
“Furthermore, we wish to inform your Excellency that we have it on good authority and it is verifiable that some of the names of delegates submitted on the list are Serving Civil Servants (Local Government Workers) who are not eligible as delegates by law and this could be a subject of litigation eventually.
“Towards this end, may we advise the National Working Committee to tread with caution and resist any attempt by anyone to hijack the process of the governorship primary in Kogi state.
“We passionately appeal to the National Working Committee (NWC) under your leadership to ensure a level playing ground for a free, fair, credible and transparent primary nomination process in the interest of the party.
“We have expressed confidence in your ability to ensure this as equity, fairness and justice has remained your hallmark in leadership,” Ocheja explained.
The Deputy National Chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari who received the group members commended them for their matured approach towards the issue.
He promised that the NWC will look into their petition and treated it on its merit.
Kyari further promised that the NWC will be fair to all the 17 aspirants by creating a level playing for them to realise their ambition. (vitalnewsngr.com)
