By ECHONEWS
National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu lived up to the billing as the symbol of internal party democracy in the ruling party yesterday as he declared that none of the aspirants running for chairmanship or councillorship in the May 29 primaries has been endorsed by him.
In a statement issued by his media office, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu accused persons intent on “sowing the seeds of discord and undermining democracy within the party” of spreading rumours that he and the GAC have a list of preferred candidates.
“We state, categorically, that there is no such list nor are there any plans to influence the primaries in any manner. These stories are false and mean–spirited attempts to hurt the party,” it said.
The statement rested speculations of influence-peddling in the hustling for the 57 chairmanships and 377 councillorship positions to be filled on May 29 before the flagbearers will slug it out with the candidates of other parties in the local government polls on July 24, this year.
There has been reports that aspirants ad their godfathers who approached the National leader since he returned from Umrah, the lesser Hajj met a cold rebuff as he directed them to go and mobilise the rank and file members and participate in the primaries organized by the party,
Many people did not believe the reports because they thought it would be business as usual.
Analysts contend that the APC National Leader’s position would strengthen his democratic credentials within the party and draw more youths and liberals to rally behind his plans to seek the party’s presidential ticket.
According to Dapo Oriyomi, a political analyst: “Asiwaju has always been a democrat. He was part of the struggle for the revalidation of June 12. He invested his resources in bringing democracy back to the country. But his efforts to enforce internal party democracy in the past were thwarted by sit-tight politicians who always come with scary scenarios of violence and bloodshed to discourage free elections. I thank God that, at last, Asiwaju has called their bluff and has revived democracy within the party’s rank and file.”
Others praised Asiwaju for his courage and leadership in these troubled times adding that he has demonstrated that he could see through the calculations of sit-tight politicians who were canvassing for the caretaker committee to deny the democratic rights of the people.
Below is the full text of the press statement:
LAGOS LG POLL: I Favor No Candidates
The Lagos All Progressives Congress Governance Advisory Council meeting of Friday, 21 May 2021 discussed ways to ensure the fairness of the party primaries for the upcoming Local Government Elections in Lagos State. Unfortunately, people intent on sowing discord and undermining democracy within the party have begun to spread lies and rumours that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the GAC have a list of preferred candidates for the upcoming primary elections and that the party will skew the primaries to benefit these people. We state, categorically, there is no such list nor are there any plans to influence the primaries in any manner. These stories are false and mean-spirited attempts to hurt the party.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu would like it to be known, by way of this statement, that he has no preferred candidates for the upcoming local government primaries. He has no intention to endorse any of the people contesting for the party nomination in any election, whether for chairmanship or councillorship positions. On this matter, Asiwaju believes he can speak for the rest of the GAC regarding their belief in the impartiality and transparency of the internal party process.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the other GAC leaders seek a free, fair and transparent process in which the candidates who emerge are those who gather the most support among the party rank and file. Only in this manner, do we best prepare ourselves for the general election.
For the APC, the integrity of the primary process is of the highest priority. All efforts must be geared towards the realisation of a free, fair and transparent process. To this end, party officials are obligated to establish the necessary arrangements ensure orderly, peaceful, free and fair primaries. They have also been empowered to deal appropriately with any who might attempt to undermine or otherwise try to inject impair the party primaries. The party should adopt a policy of no tolerance toward any attempt to inject trouble into this primary process.
The APC Constitution directs that the party’s candidates should emerge through direct or indirect primaries or by consensus. In order to reduce tension and avoid discord and in-fighting, aspirants should embrace consensus wherever possible.
However, where consensus is not possible, fair and clean primaries must be held so that party members have a chance to choose the candidate they want from among the competing aspirants. All aspirants, however, must realize that only one person can win any given contest. While we encourage everyone to compete with zeal and energy, we encourage all aspirants and party members to respect the results of our primaries. Once the primaries end, we must unite as a party so that we win the general elections thereby ensuring the continuity of progressive governance at the local government level throughout the state.
IN this vein, Asiwaju appeals to party leaders in the all the local governments to allow democracy to flourish. He urges them to do everything humanly possible to protect and promote the democratic process.
Asiwaju Tinubu’s interest is in a free, fair and peaceful process. He has no preferred candidate in the primaries. In the Lagos APC, democracy not devious rumors must be allowed to flourish!
Tinubu Media Office,
May 23, 2021.
