The United Kingdom (UK) chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the party’s national and Ondo State leadership to conduct credible and transparent primary for its aspirants ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
In a New Year message through its Vice Chairman, Mr. Ayo Adigun, the APC members urged the party’s leadership to adopt the presidential primary template held in Lagos on December 10, 2014, which was generally adjudged the most credible and transparent in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.
The party advised APC’s leadership to ensure equal opportunity for every qualified aspirant in the election.
The statement said: “Everyone should be given ample opportunity to address delegates on their manifestos, while the process – from accreditation of delegates through the voting processes to declaration of result – should be streamed live for the people of Ondo State and other Nigerians to watch and participate in.
“To ensure that all aspirants are adequately carried along in the electoral process and to engender transparency, the party’s leadership is advised to offer all aspirants the privilege of nominating one representative each to constitute the electoral committee. This suggestion will assuredly minimise post-primary election disputes and offer aspirants the platform to promptly accept and endorse the eventual winner of the straw poll.
“When our party gets it right at the primary election, we would have sent a strong signal to the people of Ondo State that APC is prepared for good governance. It will undoubtedly show our determination to better govern the state and our resolve to turn poverty into fortune in our dear state. We are most concerned about the poor level of governance in Ondo State and the gloomy state of government affairs in our home state. The challenge of unemployment and the increasing level of poverty call for concerns. However, we are resolute in our belief that 2016 offers the best chance to effect change in Ondo State.”