By Ibrahim Sheriff
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fix 3rd June, 2022 deadline for submission of Political parties’ candidate for various elective positions in the 2023 general elections, the Kwara state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is considering a consensus arrangement for the selection of candidates.
According to a statement by the Party’s Publicity Secretary, Tajudeen Folaranmi Aro, a competitive primary elections may only be conducted in various constituencies where stakeholders are unable to agree on a bottom-up consensus to field candidates.
“The constitution of our party allows stakeholders to arrive at consensus candidature provided that is the wish of the people. In that case, bottom-up, inclusive approach is welcome at all levels of our party”, the statement said.
Aro added that, “All aspirants are invited to purchase their nomination forms at the Party’s secretariat once the process officially opens in the coming days. No attempt will be made to silence anyone’s aspiration.”
“The party will also be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act as amended. Where aspirants and stakeholders at any level do not on their own agree to a consensus arrangement, the party shall organise very transparent, orderly and peaceful primaries to decide who our candidate will be”, he said.
The party enjoyed all aspirants to peacefully and decorously market themselves to party members and stakeholders, and be ready for either of consensus arrangements or primary elections in the spirit of sportsmanship, party democracy and rule of law.
Recall that Fresh Insight had reported that no fewer than ten (10) appointees of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will be contesting elective positions in the 2023 general elections under the APC platform.
At least twenty (20) members of the Kwara state House of Assembly will also be jostling for a return ticket to the State House, while others are either contesting National Assembly seat or schemed out by zoning arrangements in some of the constituencies.
Some of the House of Assembly members may however not be considered for the Party’s ticket, if Gov. AbdulRazaq’s preference for the emergence of some female candidates is anything to go by.
