TheCable

A group known as the Concerned All Progressives Congress (APC) Members says it will be unfair if Edo senatorial north district is excluded from participating in the primary poll to produce a governorship candidate for the party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September for the Edo governorship election.

In a statement on Monday, Osemwegie Irobun and Isigo Eromosele, the group’s coordinator and secretary, said the report of the screening committee which allegedly excluded Edo north is “retrogressive”.

They said the aspirants in Edo north are being frustrated out of the race because of the “report”.

“For the sanctification of democratic norms and the firm positioning of the APC national working committee and its state’s chapter, would it not amount to double standards for an entire north senatorial district, which gave APC the mandatory presidential winning, and the highest votes in the 2020 guber poll to be excluded from an important governorship election, where its two aspirants are the most qualified?,” they said.

“Now that the two aspirants and the district are being frustrated from the race, what happens to the APC’s standing principle that it is free contest for all the aspirants and that zoning of the governorship slot, along senatorial districts be jettisoned, when Edo North district, which is the stronghold of the APC and its most qualified aspirants are kicked out from the contest?

“It calls on all APC faithful, defenders of democracy and good governance, to take the false disqualification for what it is — fake.

“Let us remain calm and optimistic that the APC, being a progressive party of disciplined leaders and members, would review its ‘decision’ and not progress in error by finding amicable ways out of the logjam being orchestrated by few desperate and undemocratic party men, who are being driven by selfish and pecuniary interests.”