APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole
The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has confirmed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the direct primary mode to choose its candidate for the Edo governorship election.
He spoke at a press conference on Monday shortly after meeting with APC Governors’ Forum led by Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
According to Oshiomhole, the party’s NWC had yet to decide on the mode of primaries for the Ondo governorship election because it would come much later after that of Edo. The primary election in the state has been scheduled for July 20, 2020.
“We have since published our time table because under the law, we are required to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days notice to monitor our primaries,” the party’s national chairman said.
“And to state, the mode of our primaries and of course NWC had approved direct primaries for Edo.
“That of Ondo has not been discussed because that will come much later because Edo will come about three weeks before Ondo.”
APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole
Oshiomhole, who noted that the party had begun the sale of Expression Of Interest and Nomination forms, stated that the APC would conduct its elections based on guidelines mandated by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“We have commenced the sale of forms, I think as of last Friday to my knowledge three people had picked the forms,” he said.
“I think by today more people have picked the forms. So, we are selling forms to all those who wish to buy based on the guidelines.
“And of course as the Chairman of the Progressives Governors rightly said, we have ensured in our letter to INEC and even this morning we had a virtual meeting with INEC leadership.
“We will conduct primaries taking into account the protocols on COVID-19 by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). I think everything has been going fine,” he said.
The former governor of Edo State described governors as assets to the party, promising to support the party candidates to the best of the party’s ability.
Earlier, Bagudu disclosed that the meeting was called to discuss issues between the Governor’s Forum and APC national leadership that would lead to the success of the party.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and fellow aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, have both picked up their Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the party headquarters.
On Monday, Obaseki visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, and presented his Expression of Interest form to him.
The governor and Ize-Iyamu are expected to slug it out for the party’s ticket on June 20, 2020.
