APC will not handpick candidate for Anambra guber, says Duru

AHEAD of next year’s Anambra state governorship election, the All Progressives Congress ( APC) has ruled out the possibility of imposing a candidate on the party in breach of laid down rules and regulations.

The Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party, Chidi Duru, who spoke to reporters in Abuja, at the weekend, assured that a level playing field would be provided for those jostling for the party’s ticket.

Duru, who expressed optimism that the party would sweep the governorship polls in Edo, Ondo, and Anambra states, hinted that APC would not sacrifice a candidate with grassroots support on the altar of mundane considerations.

He said: “There will be an election not just in Anambra next year, but also, in the next six to seven months, in Edo and Ondo states. The party is working harder to ensure that, as a minimum, we will win the two states that are available this year.

“Everything is being done. One is to make sure that we have a credible primary that will produce our candidates in both Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

“Unless we have a candidate that appeals to the electorate, we will not be able to attract them to vote for the candidate in the ultimate election. It is easy to win a primary election because you can conjecture some platforms based on which a favoured candidate can emerge, but that candidate will now have to face the electorate thereafter.

“So, as a principle, the National Working Committee ( NWC) has come to the conclusion that we must allow a free, fair, transparent primary to produce a candidate of the party in the two elections in question.

“A decision must be made clearly, and I believe that it must be understood. Anambra has not taken a decision on who the flag bearer of the party will be. The state will not be different from every other state where the gladiators will be given the opportunity to compete in a free, fair, transparent atmosphere. Whether it is the current member of the party or a new entrant, there will be a primary election.

Imo State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Chikeka ( left); Governor Hope Uzodimma and his wife, Chioma; Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, and Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Placid Njoku, at the Pre- inauguration cum Armed Forces Remembrance Day Thanksgiving Service at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri... yesterday.