APC Inaugurates Panel to Conduct Kogi Governorship Primaries

Nasir El Rufai

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Wednesday inaugurated a seven-man committee that would conduct the party’s primary election  in Kogi State scheduled for August 29.

The primary election would determine among the 28 aspirants who will emerge as the flag bearer for the gubernatorial poll fixed for November 29, 2015.

The Chairman of the Committee is the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai while  Senator Magnus Abe is to serve as Secretary.

Other members include Alhaji Ibrahim Sarki, Mrs. Omorgie Osifor, Mr. Mohammad Wali, Mr. Lanre Asiuwaju and Mr. Greg Egwu.

Speaking during the inauguration of the panel,  the National Organising Secretary of the APC, Mr. Osita Izunaso, charged the committee to handle the exercise with all the seriousness it deserves.

 “You should hold a stakeholders meeting first and introduce yourselves as those who are called for these assignment, the party also requests that you should reach out to security agencies in Kogi State upon arrival, the SSS, the police and other security agencies upon arrival so that they won’t say they were not informed,” he said.

According the him, the chairman of the committee will be the returning officer for the election primaries adding that once the exercise starts it must not be stopped half way.

“Once you start the accreditation, you cannot postpone; once you commence, you must complete and the winners will be announced on the spot. The aspirants with the highest number of votes shall be declared the winner. Anything short of that will not be allowed.”

“I want you to bear in mind that there is nothing like endorsement, maybe somebody will say he has been endorsed, there is nothing like that whatsoever, it is the people there that will choose,” he said.

While inaugurating the committee, the Deputy Chairman North, Senator Lawan Shaibu, said that the members of the committee were carefully chosen to do the job adding that they were credible.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State governorship election is already generating interest as an aspirant, Mr. Christopher Enai, yesterday picked up his expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the poll.

Addressing journalists at the party secretariat in Abuja after picking his forms, a one- time members of the House of Representatives said once given the opportunity to govern, the people of Bayelsa will be liberated from their difficulties.