…Insists on Peaceful Process
Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has dismissed speculations of a possible parallel House of Representatives primary election in the state, insisting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains united and committed to a transparent, peaceful and democratic process.
Speaking with journalists while the party’s primary election for the House of Representatives, Gov Nwifuru said extensive consultations had been held with party stakeholders across various levels to ensure a peaceful and credible exercise.
“As you can see, everybody is happy. We carried out very noble consultations with our stakeholders. We held several meetings and resolved issues at the zonal and constituency levels. What we are here to do today is to elect candidates who will fly the flag of our party, and I believe we will produce very credible candidates,” Gov Nwifuru said.
Reacting to rumours of a possible parallel congress, particularly in some parts of Ebonyi South, the governor described such claims as unfounded.
“We have only one congress committee. What is normal in every election is for people to come out and test their popularity, and that is what democracy allows. There is no need for any parallel congress and nobody is going to conduct one,” Gov Nwifuru stated.
On his expectations from the electoral committee overseeing the exercise, the governor expressed confidence in their ability to deliver a fair process, noting that the committee had already addressed party members and clarified issues surrounding the election.
Addressing concerns over reports of disqualification involving one of the aspirants, The Governor also clarified that such decisions were taken by the party and not by him personally.
“It was not a replacement. The person was disqualified by the party,” he said.
While maintaining that the APC in Ebonyi remains strong and focused ahead of future electoral contests, the governor also downplayed the recent defections and resignations by some APC members in the state, saying political realignments are normal in a democratic setting.
“This is politics. People joined the party based on their interests. The important question is what role they played in 2023 and what evidence exists of their support. If some people feel they want to move to another party to test their popularity, that is democracy at work, and it is allowed,” he added.
