Contrary to speculations that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State will choose its candidates through consensus arrangement, the party has adopted delegates election to “ensure justice and fairness for all aspirants.”
Making the disclosure during a high powered stakeholders meeting of the party in Yola, chairman of the state chapter of the party, Hon. Ibrahim Bilal said, the party will conduct free and fair delegates’ election to ensure party’s, strength and stability ahead of the general election.
He noted that although the party would have preferred a situation where the aspirants settle for consensus across all elective positions, the party has resolved to conduct delegates election where consensus is not adopted in order to ensure capable, popular and accepted candidates fly the party’s flag ahead of 2023 general election.
“The mode of electing candidates is through delegates’ election. As a party, we will ensure that a credible, free and fair primaries are conducted across board.
“Although the party will love a situation where the aspirants for the various positions will reach a consensus, we will nevertheless conduct credible party primaries where the candidates did not reach such a consensus arrangement.
“We will also not force a consensus arrangement on them so that the party will remain one strong and indivisible entity even after the primaries,” he said.
Bilal urged the aspirants to in the spirit of sportsmanship support those who emerged winners of the primaries so that the party could go into the general election without distractions and chaos.
“We know out of the 15 governorship aspirants, only one will fly our party’s ticket. Let those who didn’t make it know that it is not their time and support those who emerged as party’s candidates. If we do that, APC will regain its winning streak,” he said.
Bilal noted that seven delegates including party chairman and secretary of each ward will form the list of the delegates that will partake in the governorship primaries.
He however noted that it is compulsory for the inclusion of two women in the list of the seven delegates across all the wards. He therefore, urged stakeholders to go back to the drawing board to ensure the inclusion of two women in every ward that didn’t meet the condition.
Speaking separately during the meeting, a number of stakeholders including Sen Aisha Dahiru Binani, Sen. Ahmed Barata, Sen Bello Tukur, Sen Ishaku Abbo and host of others agreed that the best way to ensure the stability and strength of the party is to allow for election during the primaries.
The meeting was attended by notable party stakeholders including former and serving senators, former governor James Bala Nggilari, serving and former reps members, and former deputy governors amongst many others.
