APC State Chairmen Protest Direct Primaries

The looming crisis of confidence in the All Progressives
Congress (APC) over the mode of primary election to adopt for the
2019 elections has taken a new dimension as some aggrieved state
chairmen at the weekend ignored threat of sanction by the party to
meet on the way forward.

Possibly acting on the directives of their state governors, the
state chairmen met in Abuja yesterday to allegedly plot against the
party’s decision to adopt direct primaries for choosing candidates
for 2019 general election.

The party national leadership had earlier raised the alarm over
the meeting which it said is an attempt to alter the decision of
party on mode of primary election.

A statement issued early yesterday morning by the acting
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabene, cautioned
the members against going ahead with what it described as illegal
meeting or be ready to be sanctioned.

However, sensing that the leadership of party has noticed their
plan, the aggrieved party state chairmen across the country quickly
moved their meeting to another venue, Barcelona Hotel in Wuse II in
Abuja.

Apart from state chairmen, two ex-officio members also attended
yesterday’s meeting.

It was, however, gathered that most of those that attended the
meeting were APC state chairmen.

It was also learnt that the National Working Committee (NWC) of
APC immediately reached out to the Borno State chairman, who
chaired the meeting of the Forum of state chairmen, to clarify the
position of the party on the issue of method of primaries.

One of the state chairmen, who spoke to newsmen on condition of
anonymity at the end of the meeting, said the party wrote a letter
to them yesterday to clarify issues.

Although he did not state the content of the letter, it was
learnt that the party may have caved in to pressure, and reversed
its insistence on the use of only direct primary mode of
primary.

When newsmen asked one of the chairmen what the outcome of their
meeting was, his brandished a letter written with APC’s letterhead,
saying it was sent to them by the party.

Newsmen also saw one of APC National Vice Chairmen from the
North emerging from the meeting.

Although he did not want to be quoted, he told journalists that
the meeting was essentially to protest against the highhandedness
of the party leadership in imposing direct primaries on the
members.

An ex-officio member of APC who also attended the meeting said
the state governors and even some national officers are not happy
with the direct primary option, adding that as leaders of the party
in the states, they will do everything to protect their
interest.

According to him, “The state chairmen will do everything
possible to resist the imposition of direct primaries on the party,
including passing a vote of confidence on the National Chairman of
the party, Adams Oshiomhole, and his NWC members.”

Signs that there were still unresolved issues on the mode of
primaries for the APC came to the fore when the party issued a
statement contradicting what two governors told journalists on the
outcome of the National Executive Committee meeting.

It was gathered that some governors and other stakeholders were
not comfortable with the decision of the party to make direct mode
of primary election almost compulsory, and had planned a meeting at
the Transcorp Hilton Hotels yesterday afternoon.

The aim of the meeting, it was learnt, was to raise issues
against the adoption of direct primaries and also to seek ways of
stopping the NWC led by Oshiomhole from enforcing it.

However, the leadership of APC got wind of the planned meeting
and warned the conveners to desist from such or “they will be dealt
with in line with the party’s constitution at the appropriate
time.”

The APC’s statement read: “The attention of the NWC of the APC
has been drawn to an illegal meeting scheduled to hold on Sunday at
Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja by some members of our party
organs, with a view to fault the decisions made by the NWC followed
by the National Executive Committee (NEC) as regards the mode of
the party’s primary elections.

“We want to state clearly that the meeting which has been fixed
for 2p.m. is illegal and an attempt to puncture the sincere efforts
being made by the Oshiomhole-led NWC to reposition our party ahead
the 2019 general election and to ensure unity, equity and justice
in the party.”

The statement said the outcome of such meeting which is already
known will be a nullity, adding that members should disregard such
meetings in the interest of the party.

It also said it has identified those behind the meeting, and
would have them sanctioned unless they retrace their steps.

“It is illegal to call such meetings outside the purview of the
constituted authority.

“The identities of those plotting such meetings have been
identified and unless they desist from such, they will be dealt
with in line with the party’s constitution at the appropriate
time.

“The NWC will resist any attempt to disrupt the current peace
and harmony prevailing in our great party after the exit of some
members of our party.

‘We urge any member who is not satisfied with the decisions of
the party to utilise channels provided by the party’s constitution
to air their views,” it stated.

The looming crisis of confidence in the All Progressives
Congress (APC) over the mode of primary election to adopt for the
2019 elections has taken a new dimension as some aggrieved state
chairmen at the weekend ignored threat of sanction by the party to
meet on the way forward.

Possibly acting on the directives of their state governors, the
state chairmen met in Abuja yesterday to allegedly plot against the
party’s decision to adopt direct primaries for choosing candidates
for 2019 general election.

The party national leadership had earlier raised the alarm over
the meeting which it said is an attempt to alter the decision of
party on mode of primary election.

A statement issued early yesterday morning by the acting
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabene, cautioned
the members against going ahead with what it described as illegal
meeting or be ready to be sanctioned.

However, sensing that the leadership of party has noticed their
plan, the aggrieved party state chairmen across the country quickly
moved their meeting to another venue, Barcelona Hotel in Wuse II in
Abuja.

Apart from state chairmen, two ex-officio members also attended
yesterday’s meeting.

It was, however, gathered that most of those that attended the
meeting were APC state chairmen.

It was also learnt that the National Working Committee (NWC) of
APC immediately reached out to the Borno State chairman, who
chaired the meeting of the Forum of state chairmen, to clarify the
position of the party on the issue of method of primaries.

One of the state chairmen, who spoke to newsmen on condition of
anonymity at the end of the meeting, said the party wrote a letter
to them yesterday to clarify issues.

Although he did not state the content of the letter, it was
learnt that the party may have caved in to pressure, and reversed
its insistence on the use of only direct primary mode of
primary.

When newsmen asked one of the chairmen what the outcome of their
meeting was, his brandished a letter written with APC’s letterhead,
saying it was sent to them by the party.

Newsmen also saw one of APC National Vice Chairmen from the
North emerging from the meeting.

Although he did not want to be quoted, he told journalists that
the meeting was essentially to protest against the highhandedness
of the party leadership in imposing direct primaries on the
members.

An ex-officio member of APC who also attended the meeting said
the state governors and even some national officers are not happy
with the direct primary option, adding that as leaders of the party
in the states, they will do everything to protect their
interest.

According to him, “The state chairmen will do everything
possible to resist the imposition of direct primaries on the party,
including passing a vote of confidence on the National Chairman of
the party, Adams Oshiomhole, and his NWC members.”

Signs that there were still unresolved issues on the mode of
primaries for the APC came to the fore when the party issued a
statement contradicting what two governors told journalists on the
outcome of the National Executive Committee meeting.

It was gathered that some governors and other stakeholders were
not comfortable with the decision of the party to make direct mode
of primary election almost compulsory, and had planned a meeting at
the Transcorp Hilton Hotels yesterday afternoon.

The aim of the meeting, it was learnt, was to raise issues
against the adoption of direct primaries and also to seek ways of
stopping the NWC led by Oshiomhole from enforcing it.

However, the leadership of APC got wind of the planned meeting
and warned the conveners to desist from such or “they will be dealt
with in line with the party’s constitution at the appropriate
time.”

The APC’s statement read: “The attention of the NWC of the APC
has been drawn to an illegal meeting scheduled to hold on Sunday at
Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja by some members of our party
organs, with a view to fault the decisions made by the NWC followed
by the National Executive Committee (NEC) as regards the mode of
the party’s primary elections.

“We want to state clearly that the meeting which has been fixed
for 2p.m. is illegal and an attempt to puncture the sincere efforts
being made by the Oshiomhole-led NWC to reposition our party ahead
the 2019 general election and to ensure unity, equity and justice
in the party.”

The statement said the outcome of such meeting which is already
known will be a nullity, adding that members should disregard such
meetings in the interest of the party.

It also said it has identified those behind the meeting, and
would have them sanctioned unless they retrace their steps.

“It is illegal to call such meetings outside the purview of the
constituted authority.

“The identities of those plotting such meetings have been
identified and unless they desist from such, they will be dealt
with in line with the party’s constitution at the appropriate
time.

“The NWC will resist any attempt to disrupt the current peace
and harmony prevailing in our great party after the exit of some
members of our party.

‘We urge any member who is not satisfied with the decisions of
the party to utilise channels provided by the party’s constitution
to air their views,” it stated.