Akwa Ibom APC consensus candidacy rejected as stakeholders insist on direct primaries ahead of Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara Assembly race
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikot Ekpene State Constituency on Thursday rejected any move to impose a consensus candidate or grant an automatic ticket ahead of the party’s State House of Assembly primaries, insisting that only a direct primary would ensure fairness and credibility.
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The stakeholders made their position known after a strategic meeting held on Wednesday, warning that any attempt to bypass a transparent electoral process could weaken the party’s chances in the general election.
They argued that the Akwa Ibom APC consensus candidacy arrangement, if imposed, would amount to undermining internal democracy and could lead to the emergence of an unpopular candidate lacking grassroots support.
Speaking on behalf of the group, former APC Assistant Secretary Umoh Amadu described consensus selection as undemocratic and inconsistent with the party’s principles and Nigeria’s electoral framework.
He maintained that party members must be allowed to freely choose their representative without interference or imposition.
Amadu stressed that the stakeholders’ position was not targeted at any individual aspirant but was aimed at ensuring fairness and strengthening the party’s electoral prospects in the Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency.
He also reaffirmed the group’s support for the reelection bids of President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno, citing their performance in office as justification for continuity.
According to him, any candidate emerging from an imposed process risks rejection at the polls, urging party leaders to prioritise merit and popularity over internal political arrangements.
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The stakeholders concluded that only a transparent and competitive primary would produce a candidate capable of uniting the constituency and delivering victory for the APC in the forthcoming elections.
