2027: Ensure Transparent, Credible Primaries, APC Chieftain Advises Party

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Dr Dominic Alancha, has advised the party to ensure transparent, credible, free and fair primary elections to enable it to approach the 2027 general elections as a united force.

Alancha gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja while reacting to some recent national political developments.

“We should be doing everything possible to go into the 2027 general elections as a united front. Where consensus fails, let the direct primaries be conducted in a free and fair manner, in line with the constitution of the party.

“I am saying this because transparent and credible conduct of primaries is a sure way to approach the next general elections with the desired cohesion for landslide victory as we recorded in the last general elections.

“If the primaries are organised in a transparent manner, whosoever loses will happily congratulate the winner and work with him/her, but if otherwise, it will cause ripples that may affect the fortune of the party.

“We are encouraging the leadership and hierarchies to ensure that the free, fair and credible primaries are held across the country,’’ he said.

On the recent insinuation of wrangling in the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) leadership where a section of the media reported that Gov. Hope Uzodimma, the chairman of the forum, had been removed, Alancha attributed it to the antics of enemies seeking to destabilise APC.

“What happened in PGF was largely promoted by non-conventional media outlets.

“It was staged by enemies of the party whose intention was to sow seed of discord. When the PGF members sat and addressed the matter, it is now presumed the rumour had been dispelled.

“The intention of those behind the rumour was to create a discord and crisis among members of PGF, but the governors came together and dispelled the story as fake, maintaining that Gov. Uzodimma is still their chairman.

“With what the governors did, they have killed the earlier story, since they stated that Uzodimma remains their chairman and was not removed by 20 governors for any reason.

“The PGF issue is nothing to worry about because it is false. What is of concern is how the party can emerge victorious in the next elections.

On the recent amendment to some Senate Standing Rules which was later rescinded, Alancha said he didn’t think it was sign of crack in the party.

According to him, it is part of the game because some of the senators in APC were even among those who were opposed to the amendment.

“You remember Sen. Adams Oshiomhole was one of those who stood against the amendment and they were right, and I supported that.

“The argument was that Sen. Godswill Akpabio wouldn’t have been the minority leader if such rule was in place.

“For me, the move was more of a personal gain than institutional gain. The amendment has nothing to do with the 2027 general elections and how the people will vote.

“The party is fielding candidates with personal capacity on things they have done to convince their constituents to vote for them and it has nothing to do with the party’s fortune,’’ he said.

Alancha, however, added that he was not happy that people from same party were involved in such power play.

Nonetheless, he said that the contestation of ideas is one of the beauties of democracy and from what happened, superior ideas should always win the battle.

“In the extant case, Oshiomhole and one or two of his colleagues came up with one or two ideas and that made them win the battle, and there is nothing wrong about the matter.

“The incident should rather strengthen the faith of Nigerians that APC is a democratic party where ideas can be contested and won.

On the move by opposition parties to cause upset, especially in the presidential election, Alancha said he was afraid when the key opposition parties formed a coalition.

He, however, added that with the disintegration of the opposition, the coast was now very clear for President Bola Tinubu to be re-elected.

“Assuming all the big politicians such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, David Mark, etc. were in African Democratic Party (ADC), such political force in the country would have posed serious threat to APC.

“But with the dis-integration of that force, there is no longer serious force before Tinubu’s re-election bid and I feel the kind of result APC had in 2023 will be repeated in 2027,” he said.

The APC chieftain expressed the belief that more Nigerians would vote for Tinubu in 2027 due to his economic policies.

“Though people are complaining of the effects of the policies, most policies take eight to 16 years to materialise.

“Some policies have short-term benefits; some mid-term benefits and other long-term benefits.

“I think the president has done well and deserves the support of majority of Nigerians in the next general elections.

“That being said, I have no fears that Tinubu and APC will go into the 2027 general elections and emerge victorious as a progressive party,’’ he stated.(NAN)