…claims Attempts by Moneybags, Fifth Columnists to Instigate Internal Strife Within the Party is Averted
Special Adviser to the Governor of Imo State on Public Communication, Onwuasoanya FCC Jones has insisted that APC aspirants, leaders are happy with Governor Uzodimma’s consensus decision on APC primaries.
This was contained in an article he published which reads as follows:
The rank and file of the All Progressives Congress in Imo State has, almost unanimously endorsed the recommendation by His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, for the adoption of a consensus arrangement in the selection of the Party’s flag bearers for LGA chairmanship and councillorship in the upcoming election in the State.
Governor Uzodimma had, during a meeting with leaders of the Party and all chairmanship and councillorship aspirants on Tuesday, 27th August, affirmed that the Party’s Constitution recognises three methods for the nomination of candidates, but proposed the option of consensus which he advised the Party would go a long way in reducing rancour and opening the Party up to a major crisis and divisiveness.
In what demonstrates the Party’s overwhelming popularity and acceptability in the State, it was confirmed by the Party leadership that over 200 aspirants purchased expression of interest and nomination forms for the 27 available LGA seats in the State while over 800 aspirants purchased the Party’s forms for the 305 available councillorship seats in the State.
The APC, which has provided efficient and satisfactory governance in the State, is on a good stead to sweep all available seats in the election, given its overwhelming popularity. However, the governor observed that the management of the upcoming LGA election could determine the Party’s continued virility or otherwise.
Credible intelligence also confirmed the infiltration of fifth columnists and non-member moneybags who plotted to hijack the Party by using their deep pockets to buy off delegates and have their stooges imposed at the LGA.
Some of the aspirants being sponsored by these moneybags were found to have entered into diabolic covenants with their financiers with the objective to divert LGA funds to private pockets without recourse to meeting the developmental and welfare aspirations of the people.
Beyond his interest in ensuring that the Party’s unity and strength are sustained, the governor is also determined to ensure the success of the LGA autonomy as envisioned by the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. The governor believes that the essence of pursuing LGA autonomy would have been defeated if some people were allowed to make themselves into a cabal that would milk LGA funds once it got to them.
Loyal Party members, aspirants and leaders have passed a vote of absolute confidence in the governor over his plans to organise a seamless nomination process, and they declared their readiness to align with candidates that are favoured by the consensus arrangement.
An LGA chairmanship aspirant from Onuimo LGA who does not want his name in print because of the political sensitivity and possible misinterpretation of the statement made it clear that he is ready to accept whomever the consensus arrangement favours in his LGA.
“Of course, I believe that I am the most popular with the Party across the LGA and I am confident that I will emerge the consensus candidate. However, as a loyal Party member, I will drop my ambition if the Party decides otherwise. I believe in the leadership of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and the Party’s decision is final and binding.”
Across democracies, consensus arrangement in nominating candidates for election has been proven to be one of the most democratic, less rancorous and a unifying method. And disciplined Party members are always quick to align with the position of the Party’s leader.
For instance, in the recently concluded Democratic National Convention, Party delegates and members were very quick and showed no reluctance in affirming the choice of President Joe Biden for the Democratic nominee, in the person of Vice-president Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden merely conveyed his intention by a simple social media post, and everyone quickly fell into line. Kamala Harris who never canvassed delegates nor made any pitch to the Democratic Party members was endorsed by key Democratic Party leaders, including those who polled strongly in opinion polls as potential nominees. That is a demonstration of discipline, loyalty and that’s all that matters in democracy.
The Party leadership under Dr. Ebere Macdonald Kelechi, a thoroughbred administrator and organiser, is trusted to be able to deliver a seamless nomination exercise that would be satisfactory to a large majority of the Party’s faithful as we move to a landslide victory for the Party across the State.
IMO IS PROSPERING!
Onwuasoanya FCC Jones is Special Adviser to the Governor of Imo State on Public Communication.