The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC in Kogi state, has taken a new twist as about twenty governorship aspirants on Monday stormed the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, to protest the adoption of indirect primaries as a modality for the selection of the party's flag bearer ahead of the November election.
The Governorship aspirants under the aegis of Kogi State APC Governorship Aspirants Forum expressed their displeasure at the indirect primary adopted by the National Working Committee of the APC for the November 2 governorship election in Kogi State.
The group, in a letter to the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, warned that the indirect primary adopted by the party would have serious negative consequence on the fortune of the party in the state. The spokesperson for the forum, Mohammed Ali, expressed concerns that the decision to protest against the party's position was taken at a meeting held on Sunday and attended by 20 governorship aspirants.
“The planned adoption of the indirect party primary is inherent with serious negative consequences for the fortune of the party in Kogi State. We regret to observe that such decision was taken without adequate consultation with critical stakeholders of the party in the state especially the governorship aspirants on the platform of the party and other contending groups in the polarised structure of the party in the state.
“The decision to adopt an indirect primary by the National Working Committee is fraught with severe implications. First, contrary to the information given to the National Working Committee, there is a suit pending in Abuja court seeking to determine the authentic executive of the party in the state (see attached).
“As a matter of fact, at the last hearing, the suit was adjourned till October 2, 2019. Second, arising from the pendency of the various suits to determine the legitimate party executive council in the state, the use of any factional delegate list may amount to an exercise in futility. And lastly, we may have unconsciously set a booby-trap for our party and the stage for the replay of the unfortunate Zamfara scenario.”
Earlier, some protesters had gathered at the party secretariat to protest against the Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello whom they claimed had underperformed and should not be rewarded with the party's ticket. Attempt to disperse the protesters by thugs suspected to be loyal to Governor Bello failed. However, the FCT Police Command swiftly responded by restoring order at the premises.
