From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

The party members, speaking under the platform of Anambra APC Stakeholders’ Forum (AASF), said adopting the indirect primary system was a recipe for electoral disaster that would ruin the victory chances of the party at the polls.

AASF, in a statement by Chief Hycinth Okonkwo, raised the alarm that some individuals within the party were plotting to destabilise the party and its victory chances in the coming election by pushing for “Indirect Primaries in the election.

“In addition to that, we have received credible intelligence that a certain unnamed governorship aspirant within the party is trying to subvert the internal democracy of the party by offering some huge financial inducement (allegedly $3m bribe) to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC so that the NWC can impose ‘Indirect Primaries’ for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Anambra State.

“This desperate move is aimed at rigging the process in his favour, manipulating party structure and denying the people of Anambra the opportunity to choose their candidate, freely and fairly.

“This individual, in his arrogance, has boasted openly that the NWC is now on his side due to the illicit funds he might have deployed. He also alleged that the National Chairman of APC would not conduct any delegate election, but would use his delegate list to deliver him as the governorship candidate of APC.

“We categorically reject these alleged criminal tendencies, and will not allow the soul of our party to be sold to the highest bidder. We insist that such an aspirant should be disqualified immediately from the race as his actions are a direct affront to the integrity of the APC, and the democratic principles that our great party stands for.”

The party chieftain called on the APC national leadership, President Bola Tinubu, and other well-meaning members of the party to resist the attempted coup against democracy, and ensure that the primary election in Anambra State is conducted transparently, through a direct or consensus process that reflects the true will of party members.

“Surprisingly, this culprit is a very new entrant into the party, and because of his fear of not getting the APC ticket, he has resorted to bribing his way in. Any attempt to impose ‘Indirect Primaries’ as a result of corrupt inducement will be vehemently resisted by party members and the good people of Anambra. We shall mobilise to ensure that Anambra APC does not become a playground for corruption and manipulation.”

He urged all aspirants to engage in issue-based campaigns rather than resorting to criminal acts of bribery and electoral fraud. “The APC must not become a party where money determines leadership. Integrity, competence and the will of the people must always prevail.”