Senator Uche Ekwunife has said that she does not want to be dashed the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket, but rather she wants to vie for the ticket and get it on merit.
In an interview with journalists in Awka, Anambra State capital, she said she wants the APC hierarchy to organize a primary for all the aspirants interested in the seat and she will support whoever wins the ticket if she did not get it.
Ekwunife recently defected to APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the nullification of her election by the Court of Appeal and the refusal of the PDP to organize fresh primaries to produce the party candidate for the rerun election.
On her chances in APC, Ekwunife, who boasted she has a formidable structure to realize her ambition, said her chances are bright.
In her words, “I went through the APC manifesto and constitution. Once you are a member, you have the same rights and privileges as old members. The only difference is that you are not an executive member. Remember, in Benue, Governor Ortom ran the primary in PDP. He was running for the Senate in PDP. When it became impossible, he defected to the APC, got the ticket, ran the election and won.
“What should be paramount for any political party is the capacity and capability of a candidate to deliver. I am very hopeful and certain of winning. Irrespective of our political affiliations and religious background, we are not foreigners. Anambra Central voters know us and our antecedents. I am very confident that I will win the seat back.”
She said she is a victim of circumstances because the Appeal Court agreed that she beat Chief Victor Umeh of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but quashed her election based on invalid nomination by PDP, adding that she would defeat Umeh again if nominated by the APC.
