APC governors back electoral guidelines for primaries, call for unity

Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) say internal party democracy, mode of primaries, and preparations for upcoming elections were key issues as the party moves to finalise procedures for selecting candidates ahead of the next electoral cycle.

They stated this during a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, where he met with APC governors. The discussions focused on the party’s upcoming primary elections, adherence to the Electoral Act, and efforts to ensure unity and transparency within the party.

Other key issues at the meeting were the mode of primaries, with governors confirming that the party would proceed using options permitted by law, including consensus and direct primaries.

Niger State Governor Umar Bago said the President reaffirmed support for the governors and the party’s internal decision-making process.

He said: “The President… has given us a go ahead to go ahead to conduct primaries based on the Electoral Act, either a consensus or direct primaries.”

Bago added that the engagement was also to appreciate the President’s position on internal party affairs, noting that: “He has reaffirmed his support for our decision, and he has given us a go-ahead to proceed.”

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the meeting reviewed the timetable for the primaries that has already been released and stressed the importance of credible elections within the party.

He stated: “The timetable for the primaries has been released. We’ve discussed the process moving forward so that there will be free and fair elections.”

AbdulRazaq emphasised that the objective is to avoid internal disputes and strengthen the party ahead of elections, adding that the APC should emerge from the process “stronger than ever.”