Edo South And Central Senatorial Districts APC Primaries: Why Oshiomhole Must Stop Imposition Of Candidates
By AZUH AMATUS
Crisis is currently brewing in Edo South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, ahead of their primaries elections.
Very reliable information reaching DAYLIGHT.NG has it that many of the card carrying members of the party are calling on the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to urgently intervene and help stop the imposition of any candidate in the exercise.
They are passionately appealing to the national body to enable them choose the candidates of their choice, without interference or intimidation from any quarters.
Among the three aspirants contesting for the Edo Central Senatorial District, Honourables Sylvester Igbogbo, Patrick Ikhariale and John Inegbedion, insiders are alleging that the Governor is not hiding his preference for John Inegbedion, who is a serving Commissioner in his administration.
These worried card carrying members of the party are further alleging that the Governor is doing all within his means to frustrate the other two aspirants in order to pave way for his anointed aspirant.
A party chieftain who spoke with our reporter on the condition of anonymity made it clear that if the Governor succeeds in foisting John Inegbedion on the party, then the PDP should start celebrating because the people will in anger vote enmasse for the PDP in protest, thus spelling doom for APC in these senatorial districts.
He asserted that the imposition of candidates would lead to mass defection, adding that even those working for the government are prepared to lose their jobs.
“Many are praising Combrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the courage to push through the decision of the party to conduct direct primaries for the selection of the party’s candidate’s in the forth coming general elections. Many believe that any person with a lesser stature and political spine would have caved in under the pressure of Governors and godfathers who preferred indirect primaries that would have given them the leeway to hand pick their favoured candidates.
The party has been able to test its cohesiveness and national acceptance with the high turnouts and general peaceful nature of the primaries. Many say that the APC got the right candidate in the Comrade and that the party is waxing stronger because of that singular action of letting the people to choose the candidates of their choice,” stated another worried party chieftain.
“Painfully, the Governor is finding it difficult to allow the ordinary members of the party to choose their preferred candidates. In the home state of the Chairman, the Governor, who was literally forced to succumb to the direct primaries principles and guidelines of the party, is leaving no stone unturned to foist candidates on the people. For example, there are three candidates vying for the party’s senatorial ticket under the platform of the party in Edo Central Senatorial District and he wants his anointed aspirant to be selected by all means. And we say no to that move because it is undemocratic. Oshiomhole is our only hope and we are very sure he would do the right thing”, posited another disappointed party top shot in the district.
