Aggrieved Yobe APC governorship aspirants demand transparent primaries

Three aggrieved governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State have rejected the emergence of Baba Malam Wali as the party’s consensus candidate, demanding the conduct of free, fair and transparent primary elections. The aspirants are former Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja; Hon. Bashir Machina; […]

Three aggrieved governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State have rejected the emergence of Baba Malam Wali as the party’s consensus candidate, demanding the conduct of free, fair and transparent primary elections.

The aspirants are former Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja; Hon. Bashir Machina; and Barrister Kashim Musa Tumsah.

Addressing journalists in Damaturu on behalf of the group, which identified itself as G-3, Tumsah said the imposition of any candidate would violate the APC constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He warned that the group would challenge the outcome of the exercise if due process was not followed.
“The three of us are here to ensure that the right thing is done, especially now that the issue of consensus has not been properly resolved,” he said.

“The process for consensus was not properly followed. That is why we are insisting that the process has failed, and we have the right to ask for direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act and the party guidelines.”

Tumsah alleged that the process leading to the adoption of a consensus candidate amounted to imposition rather than genuine consultation.

“We want a process that allows party members to freely vote and choose the person they want to represent them as the APC candidate.

“We don’t want any process where results will simply be written without elections being conducted. The law guiding direct primaries should be strictly adhered to,” he said.

He further urged the APC leadership to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act and party guidelines to avoid actions that could jeopardise the party’s participation in the general election.

“We are pledging that whoever emerges through a transparent, free and fair primary election, we will support and work with him to win the general election. Anything short of that will not be accepted,” he added.

Also speaking, Bashir Machina called on party supporters to resist what he described as the imposition of candidates.

According to him, candidates produced through endorsements by a few individuals rather than through a democratic process may not serve the interests of the state and its people.