The Kogi APC Youth Caucus has reaffirmed their support for adoption of indirect primary election system by the National Working Committee for selection of party flagbearer for November 16 governorship poll in the state.
A statement issued on Sunday by Jacob Oyetola on behalf of Kogi APC Youth caucus advised the national leadership of the party not to fall for bait of people working for the opposition elements.
The statement read:
“We appreciate the leadership of our great party for showing commitment to ensure smooth conduct of Primary election ahead November 16 governorship election in Kogi state. We are happy by the neutrality, unbiased, openness and transparency manner the APC National Working Committee is conducting their affairs.
“The Kogi APC Youth Caucus have no reservation for adoption of indirect primary election model to select our party flagbearer for Kogi governorship election because it’s recommended during all inclusive stakeholders meeting held few weeks ago in Lokoja.
“Recall that the APC National Working Committee in build up to 2019 general elections provides two options; Direct or indirect primary election to select party candidate(s) and empowers State Executive Committee to recommend preferred option for National Working Committee approval and Kogi APC adopted indirect primary election to select all the 34 party candidates during just concluded 2019 general elections without any rancour.
“Recently, all the genuine Kogi APC stakeholders at a well publicized party event attended by Governor Yahaya Bello, party executive members, elected political office holders, Hon Hadi Ametuo and his group and others adopted indirect primary election for selection of APC governorship candidate for November poll. Their recommendations was immediately transmitted to National Working Committee for ratification, which APC NWC approved last week.
“Therefore the rejection of indirect primary election by some Kogi APC members and aspirants aim at causing unnecessary crisis ahead of November poll for self interest which is disservice to entire APC structure in Kogi state and Nigeria as a whole.
“Furthermore, we would like to inform APC National Leadership that some desperate opposition elements within and outside Kogi state are trying to destabilize Kogi APC by sponsoring some aspirants during the primary election.
“We gathered that those party members agitating for direct primary are acting opposition card aim at disruption the process in over 100 out 239 wards, if the party dance to their tune. Intelligence report indicates that they have perfected plans to make it impossible for APC to complete the Primaries before INEC deadline through filing of lawsuits and disrupt the process in wards across Kogi state.
“It’s pertinent to note the main opposition party stakeholders have been boosting that APC will not field candidate for November 16 governorship election in Kogi state. They have repeatedly expressed their readiness to make the terrible situation that to our great party in Zamfara, Imo and Rivers States to reoccur in the confluence.
“The Kogi APC Youth Caucus reaffirms support for adoption of indirect primaries for selection of governorship candidate for November poll.
“We however urge the party leadership to conduct credible, free, fair and acceptable primary election, and also give all aspirants level playing ground in line with APC guidelines.
“We also call on APC National Working Committee to disregard the self serving stakeholders as they do not have the authority to speak for Kogi APC or its members. The voice of the minority should not override voice of the majority in the spirit of justice and fairness.
