Some stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress in Anambra State have rejected alleged attempts to impose indirect primaries for the upcoming governorship election.
They argue that such a move would promote corruption and manipulation within the party.
The stakeholders, under the banner of the Anambra APC Stakeholders Forum, issued a statement on Tuesday urging all genuine aspirants to focus on issue-based campaigns instead of engaging in acts of bribery and electoral fraud.
In the release, signed by the Convener of the group, Chief Hycinth Okonkwo, the stakeholders emphasized that the APC should not become a party where money dictates leadership. They stressed that “integrity, competence, and the will of the people must always prevail.”
Okonkwo said, “We have received credible intelligence that a certain governorship aspirant within our party has attempted to subvert internal democracy by offering a staggering $3 million bribe to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC in a bid to impose indirect primaries for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Anambra State.”
He further accused the aspirant of trying to rig the process in his favor, manipulating party structures, and denying the people of Anambra the opportunity to choose their candidate freely and fairly. “This individual has boasted openly that the APC NWC is now on his side due to the illicit funds he has deployed. That the National Chairman will not conduct any delegate election but will use his delegate list to deliver him as the governorship candidate of APC.”
The Anambra APC Stakeholders Forum firmly rejected these alleged actions, describing them as a direct attack on the party’s integrity and democratic principles. “We insist that such an aspirant should be disqualified immediately from the race, as his actions are a direct affront to the integrity of the APC and the democratic principles that our great party stands for.”
The group called on the APC National Leadership, President Bola Tinubu, and all well-meaning party members to resist what they called an attempt to undermine democracy and ensure that the primaries in Anambra State are conducted transparently through a direct or consensus process that reflects the true will of party members.
“Furthermore, we warn that any attempt to impose indirect primaries as a result of corrupt inducement will be vehemently resisted by party members and the good people of Anambra. We shall mobilize to ensure that Anambra APC does not become a playground for corruption and manipulation,” the statement added.
The stakeholders urged all genuine aspirants to engage in issue-based campaigns and to avoid resorting to bribery and electoral fraud. “The APC must not become a party where money determines leadership — integrity, competence, and the will of the people must always prevail,” the group emphasized.
