A group in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC , the Good Governance and Justice Forum, AGGJF has warned the leadership of the party of severe consequences if the party’s candidates, who won the primary recently were substituted.
The group said any attempt to replace those who won the election with new candidates will likely trigger unrest in the ruling party, and distract it ahead the 2027 election, saying the aggrieved candidates can drag the party to court, thereby putting it under unnecessary legal entanglement at a time the party is supposed to be concentrating efforts on how to win next year’s election.
According to the Forum, in a statement signed by its National Convener, Umar Mustapha, on Thursday, the ruling party is supposed to have commenced a reconciliation process to appease those who lost during the primary, instead of opening up new wounds by trying to substitute those who actually won the election.
It stressed in the statement that the delegates have made their choice during the primary conducted by the party, leading to the emergence of winners, saying the issue of who represents the party in 2027 have already been settled by that act.
The Forum particularity called out Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA over the issue, urging him to concentrate on his job instead of unnecessary meddling in the affairs of the party, which the group said should be left to its leadership to handle.
“The democratic process has been undertaken, aspirants have subjected themselves to party rules, delegates have made their choices, and winners have emerged,” the Forum said.
“It is therefore deeply disturbing that credible reports have continued to emerge suggesting that there are ongoing attempts in certain quarters to substitute or replace the names of candidates who legitimately emerged victorious during the party’s primary elections.
“If these reports are true, such actions would amount to a direct assault on internal party democracy and a betrayal of the confidence reposed in the electoral process by party members. It would undermine the sacrifices made by aspirants, delegates and party faithful who participated in good faith throughout the exercise,” the statement said.
The forum warned that arbitrary candidate substitution could expose the ruling party to prolonged litigation and distract it from preparations for the general elections.
“The consequences of arbitrary substitution of candidates are too grave to ignore. Such actions would almost certainly trigger multiple court cases across the federation, deepen existing divisions within the party and distract its leadership from the serious business of preparing for the general elections.
“Instead of focusing on campaigns and consolidating support among Nigerians, the party could find itself consumed by avoidable litigation.”
“It is for this reason that we respectfully call the attention of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the emerging situation. While internal party affairs remain the responsibility of the party, developments capable of generating widespread political tension, public unrest or prolonged instability deserve the attention of relevant authorities before they escalate.”
The forum further appealed to the leadership of the party to ensure that it did the right thing on the issue, warning of dire consequences as any “attempt to reverse those outcomes outside the framework provided by law” may lead to the polarization of the party.
“We are also calling the attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC governors forum, the National Chairman of APC; the National Leader of the APC and all critical stakeholders of the APC that substituting validly elected candidates at primaries with those that did not even buy nomination forms and cannot even win their polling units ward and local government will spell doom for the party.”
“Those allegedly involved in any attempt to alter the outcome of the primaries should immediately desist. The primary elections have been concluded. Candidates have emerged through the established process and have already commenced preparations for the next phase of the electoral process.
“Any attempt to reverse those outcomes outside the framework provided by law and party regulations would only deepen mistrust and create avoidable divisions,” the forum said.
Recall that the daughter of the president, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo recently warned the APC leadership that she was ready to lead market women in Lagos in protest, any attempt by the party to substitute the names of candidate who emerged winners in the recently conducted primary elections across the country.
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