By Dapo Akinrefon
LAGOS — AHEAD of the primaries, a group, Concerned members of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, yesterday, urged the leadership of the party not to impose any candidates for House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Tunde Samson alleged that there is a predetermined list of preferred candidates for the House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly elections.
The group further vowed to resist a repeat of what it described as “shameless imposition and daylight robbery” that marred the Local Government elections and the arbitrary appointment of supervisors.
Samson noted that his group would not allow a select cabal to subvert the will of the people, saying that the Lagos APC is not the private estate of a privileged few.
The group said: “We write on behalf of deeply concerned and vigilant members of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who will no longer stand idly by while a select cabal attempts to subvert the will of the people.
“We have it on credible authority that certain partisan figures have retreated into a clandestine enclave, operating from a private residence, to concoct and impose a predetermined list of preferred candidates for the House of Representatives and Lagos State House of Assembly elections.
“This brazen conspiracy stands in direct violation of the party’s unequivocal commitment to direct primaries. It is nothing short of a calculated assault on internal democracy and an insult to the collective intelligence and rights of party members.
“Let it be stated in unmistakable terms: we will resist this impunity with every lawful means available to us. Lagos APC is not the private estate of a privileged few, nor will it be reduced to a playground for political manipulation and backdoor arrangements.
“We will not tolerate a repeat of the shameless imposition and daylight robbery that marred the Local Government elections and the arbitrary appointment of supervisors. Those who believe they can once again railroad the process are grossly mistaken.”
It, however, urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure the primaries in the Lagos APC are transparent.
The group said: “By this statement, we hereby draw the attention of Bola Tinubu, a thorough democrat and an unyielding advocate of free, fair, and transparent primaries through the direct primary process. We recall that even Mr President subjected himself to the rigours of primaries during the last election, demonstrating his firm belief in due process and internal democracy. Any move contrary to this tested and trusted democratic path is tantamount to laying the foundation for electoral failure.
“This is a final warning. Do not test the resolve of party faithful. Do not push this state toward avoidable chaos with your anti-democratic machinations. The consequences of undermining due process will be severe, far-reaching, and entirely self-inflicted.
“There must be free, fair and transparent primaries. Anything short of this will be fiercely contested. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.”
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