APC Battles Primary Election Crisis

Appeal panel intervenes

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

One week after the deadline for party primary elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is still grappling with issues arising from the governorship and legislative primary elections.

Following the expiration of deadline for petitions and appeals on October 7, the party decided to deploy members of appeal committee headed by former Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, to assist in reconciling aggrieved aspirants to ensure that they do not defect to another party.

Many aggrieved aspirants of the APC had stormed the party’s national secretariat to file their petitions with the hope that their complaints will be treated and possibly have the primary election results revisited.

However, a source told THISDAY yesterday that the appeal panel was set up by the party last week ostensibly to douse tension within the party and to enable it reach out to the aggrieved aspirants so as to plead with those of them that have genuine cases not to pursue it further.

“The appeal panel is not looking into any of the petitions because the timeframe for appeals arising from the primary elections had expired on October 7.

“The panel has been asked to study the petitions and try to reach out to the affected aspirants for possible reconciliation based on the merits of their complaints,” he said.

While inaugurating the committee, the party National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said it had till Tuesday last week to complete its job as the party hopes to commence forwarding of names of its candidates to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as from next Wednesday.

The appeal committee which is headed by Osunbor also has Hon. Mike Ugwa (Secretary), Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, Bashorun Reuben Famnyibo and Alhaji Abdulrahman Adamu as members.

Speaking at the inauguration of the appeal panel, Oshiomhole expressed hope that they would be able rise beyond sentiments to do justice to the assignment.

“I know you are going to face challenges, mainly from those who do not have facts to back their petitions and would want to cause distractions,” he said.

THISDAY gathered that the party has received over 50 petitions protesting the outcome of the primary elections

When asked to comment on the work of the appeal committee, another member of NWC said they have concluded their assignment and is ready to submit its report on Monday.

The NWC member, who did not want his name mentioned, told THISDAY on telephone that the party intends to act on the recommendations going forward.