…Akwa Ibom APC Stakeholders Reject Consensus Candidacy In State Assembly Seat
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nentawe Yilwatda has debunk speculation that the party is considering automatic tickets for National Assembly members ahead of future elections.
Yilwatda who made the clarification during a media chat in Abuja, said both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act clearly define how candidates must emerge.
According to him, all aspirants within the party would be subjected to the same process without exception.
“There is no automatic ticket in our constitution. The party cannot promise an automatic ticket.
“All members of our party will undergo the same process. We will use the Electoral Act, our party guidelines, and constitution to get people to participate in primaries.
“There’s no automatic ticket in our constitution. The constitution of the party does not provide for automatic tickets, and the party cannot wishfully promise automatic ticket to anyone.
“The Electoral Act also does not provide for automatic ticket. It says all primaries must be either by consensus or by direct primaries,” he said.
The APC chairman explained that performance would be a deciding factor for those seeking re-election.
“The people and party members will judge those who have performed very well,” he said.
Meanwhile, APC Akwa Ibom State, political stakeholders in Ikot Ekpene state constituency have rejected any form of consensus candidacy or issuance of automatic ticket to an unpopular aspirant for the Ikot-Ekpene/Obot Akara State constituency seat.
Recalled that the governor, Pastor Umo Eno had in different fora urged party stakeholders to unanimously and peacefully select any person of their choice to flag the party’s flag at the primaries.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, after a strategic stakeholders’ meeting of APC on Wednesday, they insisted that direct primary is the only transparent, democratic, and fair process that would reflect the will of the people.
He explained that the process will avail delegates and party members the opportunity to freely exercise their democratic right without intimidation, inducement, or imposition.
They noted that such an attempt was not only undemocratic but would render the party vulnerable to defeat at the general elections if an unpopular candidate is handpicked.
Former APC Assistant Secretary, Umoh Amadu, who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders, regretted the attempt by few individuals to foist a candidate who according to them does not enjoy genuine grassroots support, noting that such move “is antithetical and unwelcomed.”
He said: “APC Stakeholders in Ikot Ekpene vehemently reject the undemocratic agenda of consensus candidacy/automatic ticket for any hopeful for the Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency seat in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) State House of Assembly primaries.
“Any process such as consensus, which conveys on a few individuals the opportunity to circumvent the wishes of the majority to foist candidates who most often do not enjoy genuine grassroots support, is antithetical to internal democratic ethos and an intemperate rape to principles of fair play as enshrined in the APC constitution as well as the Electoral Act 2026.
“We plead with our leaders not to sacrifice the entire community because of their benefit. They should allow the popular candidate to win our primary so that in the general election, we win our State constituency and deliver our Governor.
“This press conference is not to attack anyone or further the interest of any particular candidate rather for the interest of Ikot Ekpene/ Obot Akara State constituency, for us to enjoy full democratic dividends.
“While we unreservedly pledge our steadfast and unalloyed support for our party, the APC, we dare say that our party can only be united and progressive if justice, fairness, and respect for the democratic rights of all members is given its deserving consideration.”
Amadu said their stand on rejection of consensus candidacy was not to attack or promote anyone but to push the interest of the two local governments and allow the most competent son or daughter of the area to emerge through direct primary.
While pledging their support for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno based on their performances, Amadu said Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara people were not ready to re-elect any representative who performed abysmally.
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