Following the alleged endorsement of three senatorial candidates by the governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for the next year’s elections, some members of the All Progressive Congress in the state have described his action as impunity taken too far.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday by some members of the ruling party in the state.
It was signed by Malomo Jide from the West, Abdulmalik Hassan from the Central and Oyibo Labaran from the East.
They frowned at the reported plans by Governor Bello to impose candidates on members.
“If the governor goes ahead with his planned imposition of Smart Adeyemi, Jibril Isah Echocho and Alhaji Yakubu Oseni as Senatorial flag bearers of the party in the forthcoming senatorial elections many of us will decamp from the party,” they said.
They reiterated their resolve to leave the APC if the plans scaled through, pointing out that the action would be counter productive mostly after several aspirants had indicated their interest and put in a lot of energy and resources.
The protesters said the only remedy to ensuring that the APC win in the forthcoming National Assembly Elections was to allow for a free and fair party primaries.
According to them, “We woke up this morning with online media reports alleging that Governor Yahaya Bello plans to impose his candidates in the three senatorial districts without any form of primaries.
“We are concerned because we are aware that politicians have been canvassing for votes across the state. Any of such attempt to impose candidates would create disaffection and we are here to state without mincing words that we and our followers would leave the APC for good.
“We have it on authority that the leader of the party in the state his excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello has told those who cared to listen that the party will provide level playing ground for all the aspirants.
“I have known his excellency to be a man of honour and integrity who will not tamper with the processes leading to the emergence of a credible and God fearing senator for Kogi West. We urge all our teeming supporters to disregard this wicked rumour and remain focused,” they stated.
However, the protesters said they would be patient and await the party’s decision but warned that any attempt to impose candidates on them in the three senatorial districts would be counter productive as they would dump the party for other platforms.
In his reaction, the Director General Media and Publicity to Bello, Kingsley Fanwo, said the governor believed in democratic processes and the freedom of party members to determine who represents them.
Fanwo insisted that the Governor was a leader who will provide a level playing ground for all contestants in the forthcoming polls.
