The peaceful “unbounded” delegates’ election among the “un-coronated” aspirants that produced the Mr. Godwin Obaseki as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Edo State 2016 governorship election has a cascading impact on evolving democracies and electoral politics, the Executive Director, Media and Public Affairs, to Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said.
A statement in Benin City titled: Edo APC Primary And It’s Cascading Impact on Democracy, signed by Mr. John Mayaki said, “primary elections are ‘preference contests’ that indicate the sentiments of the grass-roots and the ultimate power to choose a candidate for the party has always resided in the party itself.
“No doubt, changing the rules to ensure coronation would not only have done a debilitating blow on democracy, it would have doubled as a sign of weakness – a candidate that cannot win support of a majority of delegates voting their consciences does not deserve to be the nominee and certainly has no legal right to be.
“If the APC stands for nothing more than anointing a candidate with the most “bound” delegates, then it stands for nothing – this is not the situation – free delegates primary certainly has cascading impact for a stronger democracy in Edo state in particular and Nigeria in general and this is what we have witnessed.
“Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s chafe against coronation of the aspirant is undisputable. He believes the National party is its own organization with the right to decide how voting at the primary is conducted and the right of every delegate to vote his or her individual sentiments – even the ‘super-delegates’.
“However, recent weeks have not been kind to him smarting from the barrage of accusations but, Mr. Governor is the best for it today – he welcomes this open primary with delegates “unbound” and this will translate to giving verve to the party and unify it in building consensus and making our candidate stronger for the general election.
“No doubt, he is well bred to know that anti-democratic statutes cannot be enforced without recognizing that delegates are bound only by their consciences in electoral politics and have a right to choose their representatives.
“I appreciate the disposition of the Comrade Governor who is the Leader of the party at this level and the unmistakable role of our national Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. What about the tremendous candor and spirit of Camaraderie always exhibited by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu and the vigorous issue-based campaign embarked upon by Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, Comrade Peter Esele, Mr. Blessing Agbomhere, and Mrs. Tina Agbara among others who gave fillip to the entire democratic experience – we are all the winner for it”, Mayaki said
