Crisis is brewing in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as 22 aspirants for the governorship ticket of the party in Kogi State have kicked against the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) to adopt the indirect primary mode for the selection of its candidate for the November 16 election in the state.

In a petition addressed to the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the aspirants warned that the indirect primary option could result in a repeat of the party’s experience in Zamfara State in the 2019 elections.

The APC had won the governorship election in Zamfara State, but eventually lost the seat to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to internal crisis arising from party primaries.

The NWC had, last Friday, adopted indirect primary mode for the selection of its governorship candidate in Kogi State.

However, at a news conference held in Abuja yesterday, the aggrieved aspirants urged the NWC to rescind the decision as it might not augur well for the party.

Comrade Mohammed Ali, who read the petition on behalf of the group, argued that as a party committed to the enthronement of popular democracy, the resort to indirect primary would amount to muzzling the wish of the generality of the members of the party and victory for a merchandised political culture in Kogi State.

Ali disclosed that the group decided to take their case to the NWC after it held an emergency meeting of all the governorship aspirants in Kogi State on Sunday, 7th July, 2019.

He said that their review of the NWC’s decision viz-a-viz the aspirations of the party showed that the indirect party primary had “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 polarized structure of the party in the state.

“The decision to adopt an indirect primary by the NWC is fraught with severe implications. First, contrary to the information given to the NWC, there are suits pending in an Abuja court seeking to determine the authentic executive of the party in the state. 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 booby-trap for our party and the stage for the replay of the unfortunate Zamfara scenario.

“We observe that as a party committed to the enthronement of popular democracy, the resort to an indirect primary in the Kogi State chapter of the APC amounts to a muzzling of the wish of the generality of our party members, a victory for merchandised political culture and a deference to Governor Yahaya Bello’s wish to be the judge in his own case.

“It is on record that Bello’s factional party executive council members, which he is angling as delegates for the indirect primary, are peopled by his political appointees and loyalists who are on the payroll of the state government.

“It is also instructive to note that nearly all the 21 local government party chairmen are Governor Yahaya Bello’s coordinators. To subject other aspirants to this hostile political mechanism, in the name of indirect primary, amounts to a clear case of political ambush, gross act of injustice and a trust betrayed.

“Arising from these cogent observations, we categorically reject the indirect primary adopted by our party for Kogi State. We urge the national leadership to set up an independent caretaker management committee without delay with the sole mandate of providing a level playing ground for a popular direct primary involving all card-carrying members,” the statement said.

Among the aspirants at the press briefing were: Aliyu Zakari-Jiya, Dr. Tim Diche, Alhaji Yusuf Haruna, Admiral Usman Jibrin (rtd.), Alhaji Mohammed Audu, Alhaji Mohammed Ali, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, Alhaji Jibrin Haruna Mohammed.

Also in attendance were: AIhaji Yakubu Mohammed, Sheik Ibrahim Jibril, Chief Momoh Obaro, Prince Sani Shuaibu, Comrade Gowon Egbunu, Prince Sanni Shuaibu, Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, Alhaji Ahmed Aruwa, Gen. Akpa Patrick. Engr. Sunday Edibo, Khalid Adams and Yusuf Ali.

Meanwhile, supporters of Governor Bello and that of other aspirants stormed the party secretariat yesterday to protest for and against the indirect primaries decision.

SOURCE: https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2019/07/kogi-guber-fresh-crisis-in-apc-as-22-aspirants-oppose-indirect-primary/

They shld shut up their mouth.
Where were they when Yahaya Bello was busy throwing money up and down in APC secretariat for the NWC.
It is now that the party had announced the format for nomination that is when they are coming out to shout to the top of their voice.
They shld prepare to live with another four years of cluelessness and mediocrity.