More than 78 House of Representatives aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State have rejected alleged plans to impose consensus candidates ahead of the party’s primaries scheduled for Saturday.
The aspirants, under the Forum of Adamawa State APC House of Representatives Aspirants, demanded free, fair and credible primaries across the state’s eight federal constituencies.
Speaking during a press conference in Yola on Friday, the forum’s spokesman, Vrati Nzonzo, urged Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and the party leadership to ensure the exercise complies with the Electoral Act and the APC constitution.
Nzonzo said: “On consensus and primaries: Since consensus has failed across the eight federal constituencies of Adamawa State, the forum calls on the party to conduct free, fair, and credible primaries across all 226 wards of the state to enable the party present popular and credible candidates for the 2027 elections that would make the party victorious.”
The forum alleged that some aspirants had been pressured by party executives to step down from the race.
“The forum notes that some members have been contacted by certain state party executives and compelled them to step down, citing ‘orders from above’ and referring to the directives of the Governor of Adamawa State and some calling the name of National Security Adviser,” Nzonzo said.
He also claimed the forum had received information about an alleged list of preferred candidates.
He said: “The forum is also aware of claims by some party executives of the arrival of a ‘Presidential List’ of favoured candidates for the eight constituencies in the state who are either unpopular or not sellable.
According to him, any attempt to impose candidates could damage the party’s chances in the 2027 general election.
“Such imposition, if true, would undermine the party’s chances of victory, outrightly condemned by the forum and would hitherto affect the chances of the party’s victory in the general election,” Nzonzo added.
The forum called on party leaders to ensure due process is followed during the primaries.
“The forum wishes to draw the attention of the leader of the party in the state, the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, the National Security Adviser, and the party leadership to exercise caution and treat the primary election processes in accordance with the extant laws of the party,” he stated.
He further warned that failure to follow due process could hurt the APC’s electoral fortunes in the state.
He said: “We want to remind the party that actions that subvert due process threaten the party’s prospects and electoral success minding the 2019 and 2023 elections in the state.”
Nzonzo also appealed to supporters to remain peaceful despite rising tension within the party.
“Based on the brewing tension already hitting the polity, we are calling on our teaming supporters to please remain calm and law abiding as the party will certainly address our concerns with immediate effect towards forestalling the confidence we all have in the party,” he added.
Meanwhile, a senatorial aspirant on the APC platform in southern Adamawa, Peter Fwa, resigned from the race on Thursday and dumped the party over alleged plans to impose candidates.
