Some stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State have rejected alleged attempts to impose indirect primaries on the party ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
They argued that such a plot will encourage corruption and manipulation.
The stakeholders under the umbrella of Anambra APC Stakeholders Forum (AASF) in a release on Tuesday urged all genuine aspirants to engage in issue-based campaigns rather than resorting to criminal acts of bribery and electoral fraud.
In the release signed by the Convener of the group, Chief Hycinth Okonkwo, the stakeholders noted that the APC must not become a party where money determines leadership, saying “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 $3million 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.
“This desperate move is aimed at rigging the process in his favour, 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 categorically rejects these criminal tendencies and will not allow the soul of our party to be sold to the highest bidder. 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.
“We call on the APC National Leadership, President Bola Tinubu, and all well-meaning members of our party to resist this attempted coup against 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.
“In conclusion, we urge all genuine aspirants to engage in issue-based campaigns rather than resorting to criminal acts of 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.”
