NWC members lack power to endorse aspirants – APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that none of its organs particularly, the National Working Committee (NWC) has the power to endorse aspirants jostling for political offices.
The declaration by the party came as a reaction to news reports that the NWC has endorsed the Governor Rotimi Akeredolu as the APC candidate for the Ondo state governorship election.
Party spokesperson, Lanre Issa – Onilu in a statement Tuesday, disowned the claim by a group, Unity Mandate Agenda, alleging that Gov. Akeredolu has been endorsed for a second term by the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
He described the claim as false and intended to create disaffection among party members.
“We hereby, refute this spurious statement and wish to state unequivocally that neither the national chairman nor any member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has the power to endorse any aspirant.
“The APC is not in the business of endorsing aspirants. As a progressive party, our ultimate guiding principle is strict adherence to the tenets of participatory democracy.
“Our members in Ondo state and elsewhere should ignore this unfounded report. As we move close to governorship primaries in both Edo and Ondo states, it should be expected that mischief makers would do their worst to impugn on the process. As always, they would fail in this current campaign.
“Our responsibility as the National Working Committee is to provide level playing ground for every eligible aspirant to contest for the ticket.
“The party’s schedule of activities for the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections have been released. Our focus now is to ensure proper screening of aspirants, due diligence and conduct free, transparent and credible primaries to elect the party’s candidates for both elections,” said Onilu.
He urged members to continue to count on the NWC to provide responsible leadership and act strictly by the rules at all times.
