By Adesuwa Tsan
365Daily – A group of All Progressives Party (APC) stalwarts, APC Patriots, has warned unserious aspirants for the November 6 Anambra Gubernatorial elections to “save the party from avoidable rancour” by not picking the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.
The APC is expected to announce dates, modalities and cost of its governorship forms this week.
The Anambra State chapter of the group, in a statement signed by the Co-ordinator of the group, Dozie Ikedife, and spokesman, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, on Monday, March 22, 2021, urged ‘gambling’ aspirants’ who may have joined the race, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ”with a desire to seek patronage” to ”stay out of the fray.”
The statement was sequel to the group’s meeting with some contenders for the party’s ticket in the forthcoming election.
Warning that “there would be no monetary settlement for anyone who loses in the free and fair governorship primaries,” APC Patriots, Anambra Chapter, added, “Already, we have interfaced with some of the aspirants, including Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo, Senator Andy Uba, Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo and Ben Etiaba; while we look forward to giving other equally serious aspirants the same opportunity.
Other members of the group’s sterling committee include former House of Representatives members, Chizor Obidigwe and Chukwuemeke Nwogbo, APC South East zonal youth leader, Olisa Onyeka, communications guru, Ike Chidolue, business tycoon, Chidi Ogbaji and Mike Mbanefo, a legal practitioner.
The group advised the aspirants to seek endorsement of Anambrarians at the grassroots, since “the ultimate decision concerning who flies the flag of our great party in the gubernatorial contest lies with party men and women, including our youths, in the entire 326 wards of Anambra State.”
“We, therefore, urge all serious aspirants to take their message of restoring our dear state to the mainstream of Nigerian politics to the grassroots, so as to make lighter our goal of converting Anambra into an APC state, come November 6, 2021,” the statement added.
The group reiterated its resolve to work with the wide spectrum of party leaders and members to ensure an APC victory in the Anambra governorship election.