All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted the direct mode of primaries for the conduct of the governorship primary election in Kogi State.
The party informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as the aspirants of its decision to adopt the direct mode, in a letter dated April 6, 2023, and signed by the acting national chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
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The letter reads in part, “We refer to our earlier letter dated 25th January, 2023, with reference no: APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/023/191 wherein we notified the commission of the mode of primary election for the conduct of the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi State.
“However, our great party, APC has reviewed the modalities for the conduct of the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi State and has therefore resorted to adopt the DIRECT mode of primary election instead of the Indirect Mode as earlier communicated.
“The date for the conduct of the primary election still remains Friday 14th April, 2023.
“Following the above, there shall be a Special Congress to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at the Gubernatorial Primary Election in Kogi State scheduled for Saturday, 15th April, 2023.”
UNITY TIMES has earlier reported that the Federal High Court, Abuja has nullified the Kogi APC delegates’ list for the purpose of nominating a governorship candidate for the party in the November governorship election.
Justice James Omotosho who delivered the judgement, voided the ward and local government congresses said to have been conducted on February 7 on the grounds that they were not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, and the Constitution of the APC.
However, stakeholders of the party across the country said the judgement was only an academic exercise as the party had already decided to adopt the direct mode well ahead, despite winning two cases on the same matter in the previous week.
The congress was held to nominate the governorship candidate for November governorship election.
The court voided the two congresses on the grounds that they were not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, and the Constitution of the APC.
Delivering judgement in a suit instituted by a group of aggrieved APC members led by Realwan Okpanachi, Justice Omotosho who nullified the purported Ward and Local Government congresses of February 7, ordered the APC leadership to conduct fresh ones that would be in compliance with section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and section 13 of the Party’s constitution.
In the judgement, Omotosho agreed with the plaintiffs that the APC in Kogi State, failed to conduct ward and local government congresses as stipulated by relevant provisions of the law.
Among others, the judge agreed with Chief Ogwu James Onoja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN and counsel to the plaintiffs, that the APC breached section 84 of the Electoral Act and section 13 of its own constitution by concocting purported list of delegates and submitting same to INEC without the knowledge of registered members of the party in the state.
The plaintiffs in the suit with number FHC/ABJ/CS/329/2023 are Realwan Okpanachi, Yahaya Saidu Nuhu, Omaonu Clement Arome, Mustapha Ibrahim Idoko, Aku Umar Goodman and Abu Steven Okpanachi Onechiojo, while APC and INEC were 1st and 2nd defendants respectfully.