A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola, says he is still in the race to pick the party sole senate ticket for Kogi West.
In a statement on Monday, Ustaz Zakari said any attempt to impose candidates through illegal arrangements not only contradicts the spirit of internal democracy but may also have serious legal implications capable of generating avoidable litigations and deepening divisions within the party.
Reacting to reports of endorsement of one of the aspirants as consensus candidate, Ustaz Zakari, who is also an senatorial aspirant, called for strict adherence to APC Electoral Guidelines and the provisions guiding the conduct of the forthcoming primaries.
“My attention has been drawn to the purported gathering of a few individuals at an undisclosed venue where an alleged “consensus arrangement” was reportedly organized in favour of one of the aspirants in the Kogi West Senatorial race under the platform of the APC.
“First, the APC Electoral Guidelines and the provisions guiding the conduct of the forthcoming primaries are very clear on the procedures for the emergence of candidates. The party has approved democratic processes, including Direct Primaries, where party members shall freely exercise their constitutional and political rights through voting.
“Therefore, no secret meeting, self-imposed arrangement, or kangaroo consensus by a handful of persons can substitute the legitimate will of APC members across Kogi West Senatorial District,” he said.
Ustaz Abubakar emphasized that any attempt to impose candidates through illegal arrangements not only contradicts the spirit of internal democracy but may also have serious legal implications capable of generating avoidable litigations and deepening divisions within the party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I, Ustaz Abubakar Zakari Ola, remain fully in the race for the Kogi West Senatorial ticket of our great party, APC. Our aspiration remains strong, valid, and backed by overwhelming support from committed party faithful across the seven local government areas of Kogi West,” he said.
Ustaz Zakari urged all his supporters, coordinators, stakeholders, youths, women, and loyal party members to remain calm, focused, and continue all lawful preparations towards their collective victory at the polls.
“We must remain committed to issue-based engagement, unity, and respect for the democratic process.”
He called on the leadership of APC, at both the state and national levels, to closely monitor the activities of some party leaders in Kogi State whose actions are capable of causing division among members and undermining the integrity, credibility, and democratic reputation of the party and its respected national leadership.
