Ahead of Thursday’s rescheduled conduct of the All Progressives Congress primary in Edo, certain aspirants and a Civil Society group have demanded President Bola Tinubu’s direct intervention in the fresh process.
In a joint statement on Wednesday signed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Chief Lucky Imasuen, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and General Charles Airhiavbere (retd), they noted that the Imo state governor who incidentally is the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, supervision of the weekend election that has been declared inconclusive by the party national secretariat breached provisions of the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution.
They, therefore, demanded that Governor Hope Uzodinma should not be allowed to head the panel that would conduct the fresh primary.
“We strongly believe that whatever was responsible for his flagrant disregard for due process and unusual hasty declaration of unconfirmed fictitious results of the primaries outside the designated collation center may not have abated from his mind, and therefore may be repeated if given the opportunity to play the same role as chairman in the process.
“In the circumstance, we are calling on Mr President to kindly use his good offices to replace Senator Hope Uzodinma with any other respected member of our great party, as chairman whom the President strongly believes will comply with the law, maintain internal democracy, protect and defend the integrity and goodwill of the President which he has attained over the years that endeared him to both national and international stakeholders.
“Furthermore, we believe that this is the only way to remedy the ridicule and embarrassment that Uzodinma’s tactless and overzealous behaviour, which in the view of keen observers of happenings in the ongoing process of nominating a viable candidate of our party, runs within the borderline of mischief and clotted with antidemocratic vestments, unknown to law.”
At a separate media briefing, Tunji John Asaolu, Chairman, Governing Board, African Civil Society Forum, while commending President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in pushing for a fresh exercise in Edo state, noted that for the rescheduled process to be fair, transparent, and inspire confidence of all stakeholders, the Imo Governor must be asked to step aside.
“First and foremost, on behalf of the African Civil Society Forum and under the auspices of the Directorate of Political Affairs and Governance, I wish to commend Mr. President for his decisive intervention in this matter. His fatherly role in seeking a resolution to the contentious primary election impasse is commendable and reflects his commitment to upholding democratic values and principles. Call for Adherence to Democratic Principles:
“We urged all stakeholders involved in the APC primary elections in Edo to play their roles according to the rule of law, fairness, and transparency.
“It is therefore essential that the rescheduled process is conducted with integrity and in accordance with democratic principles to ensure that the will of the people is respected and upheld.
“We hereby call on Sen. Hope Uzodinma, the Chairman of Edo APC governorship primary election to step aside, having conducted a shabby primary which is described by Nigerians as quagmire to build trust in the process.
“Nigerians, especially the APC members need to build trust and confidence on the election committee which Hope does not represent.“
