The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun, on Wednesday, disclosed that the party does not have an anointed
candidate for the 2016 Edo governorship election, according to Nigerian Tribune.
The APC national chairman dropped the hint during a meeting with APC
governoship aspirants for the Edo State governoship seat at the party’s
headquarters in Abuja.
He said, “Once I open my mouth to support any candidate, it hampers my
ability to be objective and fair in the process. The moment you begin to tell
anybody why don’t you step down, the next question is what is in for me?”
“The APC has recorded credible primaries with examples being the presidential primaries and primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa states. Even in the case of Bayelsa State where there were issues, the party cancelled the first primaries and and ordered a fresh exercise — all in a bid to achieve credible primaries.”
“The party assures of credible primaries for the Edo State governorship when the time comes and with the right credentials,” he stated.
On the sidelines of the meeting, an aspirant, Ilenre Austin Emuan, said: “All aspirants were invited for a meeting with the national leadership of APC to have a discussion as far as the campaigns for the Edo State governorship election is concerned and it was a fruitful meeting.”
“As we know, the political climate in the state is getting warmer, hence, the party felt we had to meet so that we could be reminded of the party manifesto, ideology and the fact that everyone should embrace the rule of fair play and above all, to assure everyone of us that all the aspirants will be given a level playing field.”
“Of course, there are a lot of insinuations going around that there is an anointed candidate, but today, all that has been laid to rest. I can say that many of us left with so much confidence about APC and in the process of the forthcoming primaries in Edo State,” he stressed.
Aspirants present at the meeting include: Ilenre Austin Emuan; Dr Don Pedro Obaseki and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor.
