Losers at the just concluded All Progressive Congress 2027 election primaries are daggers-drawn ready for battle but an aide to the Party’s National Chairman, Mr Abimbola Tooki is appealing for calm.
Tooki, who is the Special Adviser to the National Chairman of APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda on Media and Information Strategy disclosed that there is the deliberate campaign of calumny being orchestrated in some sections of the media against his principal following the just concluded primary elections across the state.
“Ordinarily, in every democratic contest of this nature, there will always be winners and losers. While the winners celebrate, it is also expected that some of those who did not succeed may feel aggrieved and seek avenues to express their dissatisfaction. That, in itself, is part of the democratic process”, he said.
Tooki noted that what is unacceptable is the desperate attempt by certain individuals to weaponize falsehood, blackmail and misinformation against my principal simply because the outcome of the exercise did not favour their personal interests and political calculations.
According to him, the National Working Committee of the APC has already established a transparent and credible framework through which every aggrieved aspirant can ventilate grievances through duly constituted appeal committees at all levels adding that the NWC has equally assured all stakeholders that every petition and complaint arising from the primaries will be treated fairly, transparently and strictly on its merit.
He they have refused to allow the party’s internal democratic mechanisms to function effectively, saying “some desperate elements have chosen the path of media propaganda and character assassination. Their intention is obvious: to discredit the process, create unnecessary tension within the party and unjustly malign my principal before the conclusion of the appeal process.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the guidelines issued for the conduct of the primaries were very clear and unambiguous. Results from the various levels were to be collated appropriately, while the formal declaration of winners would only come after the appeal processes have been concluded. This procedure was deliberately designed to protect fairness, guarantee transparency and give every dissatisfied aspirant the constitutional right to seek redress before the relevant appeal committees.
“The appeal committees, working together with the NWC, are expected to painstakingly review all petitions before final decisions are taken. This is in line with the party’s commitment to justice, inclusiveness and internal democracy.
“Sadly, some individuals who neither believe in democratic principles nor respect party supremacy are uncomfortable with due process. Their preference is to forcefully impose their preferred candidates on the people at all cost, regardless of laid down rules, party regulations and the collective interest of members.”
He stressed that the current media attacks against his principal are not driven by patriotism, fairness or concern for democracy. They are merely reactions from individuals who are unwilling to subject themselves to the established procedures and internal mechanisms of the party.
He said: “I sincerely appreciate your steadfast support, understanding and commitment at all times. Together, we will continue to stand firmly for truth, justice, party unity and the sustenance of democratic values within our great party.”