Gov. Nwifuru: Commends leadership of APC for oraganisung transparent and inclusive primary election
Governor Francis Nwifuru, of Ebonyi State has expressed satisfaction with the orderly and peaceful conduct of the House of Representatives primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state.
Speaking with newsmen at the APC State Secretariat in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital shortly after the distribution of sensitive materials for the exercise, the governor commended the leadership of the party for organising what he described as a transparent and inclusive primary election, adding that the exercise had produced credible candidates for the 2027 general elections.
Governor Nwifuru hailed President Bola Tinubu, the APC National Chairman and members of the National Working Committee of the party, for their roles in coordinating the exercise.
According to him, extensive consultations and stakeholders engagements were carried out across the various federal constituencies to ensure a hitch-free process.
“We did a very noble consultation with our stakeholders. We had so many stakeholders’ meetings. Issues were sorted out at the zonal and constituency levels and what we are going to do today is to elect the candidates that will fly the flag of our party.”
He expressed optimism that the process would produce credible candidates capable of sustaining the party’s dominance in the state.
“I believe that, by the special grace of God, we will elect very credible candidates,” he stated.
The governor further dismissed speculations of possible parallel primaries in some constituencies, particularly Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, insisting that the party had only one recognised congress committee for the conduct of the exercise.
“We have only one congress committee. If people are contesting elections, what is normal is for them to come out to the field and test their popularity. That is democracy. There is no need for parallel congress and nobody is going to conduct parallel congress,” he added.
On reported defections and resignations by some members of the rulling party in the state, the governor said, “all these are parts of democratic practice.”
Continuing, he said, “this is democracy and it is allowed. People are free to test their popularity elsewhere if they so wish.”
Earlier, the chairman of the National Electoral Committee for the APC House of Representatives primary election in Ebonyi State, Barrister Kennedy Ekong, disclosed that election materials had been distributed to accredited ward centres across the 13 local government areas of the state.
Ekong said the committee had also deployed officials to monitor accreditation and voting processes in line with the party’s direct primary guidelines.
“We are releasing materials for them to take to the various ward centres. Each envelope contains materials for the wards in each local government area. We are also breaking ourselves into committees to monitor the exercise,” he said.
On allegations of delay in the distribution of election materials, Ekong explained that the materials were supplied directly from the APC National Secretariat and not produced by the state chapter.
“These are not materials produced here in the party. They were sent from the national secretariat,” he clarified.
Also speaking, the APC Chairman in Ebonyi State, Stanley Okoro Emegha, dismissed rumours disqualification of the member representing Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, Iduma Igariwey, from participating in the primary election.
Emegha said, “Igariwey had been cleared for the exercise and his name had already been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.”
He further said, “Igariwey stands for this primary election. We have cleared him and submitted the name to INEC and INEC acknowledged the list.”
The APC chairman further expressed confidence that the exercise would be peaceful across the state, describing the party as a united political family capable of resolving internal crises by means of dialogue.
