By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Anambra State All Progressives Congress (APC) Patriots have urged all stakeholders to stop bickering and instead close ranks and pool resources to work for Andy Uba’s victory in the governorship vote on November 6.
There has been rancour in the state APC since Uba won the primary election on June 27.
APC Patriots made the appeal at a press conference held in Awka by Patriots spokesman Victor Ogene and two other members, Chizor Obidigwe and Chuks Chinwuba.
They expressed sadness at “the undue haste” by some of our leaders to discredit the primaries even while voting was yet to be concluded.
“The primaries have been conducted,” they reiterated, “and a winner announced by the chairman of the committee, Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State.
“We, therefore, urge all our party members to accept the outcome, congratulate the winner and work assiduously for us to win the main election.
“In deed, rather than take recourse to recriminations, this, we dare say, is the time to close ranks, bound together and jointly work as a team in the foreseeable march to Agu Awka Government House.”
The Patriots acknowledged that “some hitches, including late distribution and commencement of voting” were experienced at the primaries, but they “affected all the aspirants in equal measure, as electoral materials got to each LGA at the same time.
“In almost all elections, including those conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), such glitches are easily noticeable; yet, they do not vitiate the outcome of the contest.”
Ogene said the Patriots have commenced engagements “aimed at rallying all of our aspirants for the arduous, yet achievable task before us: winning the November 6, 2021 Anambra Governorship election.”
He congratulated all aspirants, whom he described as “great ambassadors” and reminded them of their commitment to support whosever would win primaries at a prior meeting of aspirants in Abuja.
He added: “Our appreciation largely goes to the 14 aspirants of the party, who, over the last one year, laboured to sell the ideals of the APC to Ndi Anambra.
“In deed, the sheer quality of our aspirants, and their individual and collective accomplishments, have put the APC on the great highway to taking over the reins of governance in our dear state on March 17, 2022.
“In more ways than one, all the 14 men of goodwill who aspired to fly our party’s flag are great ambassadors of the APC.
“In every contest, however, there are bound to be winners and losers, but in the instant case, we all, as loyal party members, are the victors.
“This is because the outcome has only produced our party’s standard bearer, who we are all expected to assist win the November 6, 2021 governorship stool for the APC.
“As it stands, the party and its rank and file have spoken. We, therefore, congratulate our flag bearer … Andy Uba on his nomination.”
APC Patriots had on April 27 convoked an interactive session with all leading aspirants at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
The event was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, ministers, other APC members, and leading political figures from the South East.
The aspirants pledged to support anyone of them who would win primaries through a process that involves the majority of APC members in Anambra