From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
Against the backdrop of the forthcoming local government council elections on November 4, 2017, in Enugu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to take over the leadership of the state.
State Secretary of the party, Chief Robert Eze, disclosed this at Obollo-Afor, Udenu Local Government, during the send forth party organised in honour of the immediate past secretary of the party and the new Ambassador to India, Major Gen. Chris Eze (retd).
Eze said APC has put everything in place to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming local government council election.
“APC, as a party, has continued to provide level playing ground for all its members. We are fully prepared for the forthcoming local government election in the state.
“PDP, as we all know, has never conducted election. They are into selection and they have failed it again in this local government election. Everybody has seen the beauty of APC government, especially at the national level.”
Asked why the APC has not conducted its convention to elect candidates for the local government polls, the APC scribe explained that “according to the electoral law, it is not mandatory that all the political parties must conduct their primary election the same day.
“We in APC have decided to allow the PDP conduct their own first so that the whole world will continue to see the pitfalls of the PDP. However, preparations are in top gear to make sure APC has its own primary in October.”
On how the party is preparing for the forthcoming local government poll in the state, the one-time governorship candidate said: “We have continued to mobilise our people, especially those who are yet to join the APC and we are getting positive results.
A lot of people are now decamping to APC, coupled with the obvious fact that our people are already fed up with the rigging character of PDP.
“So, expect APC to sack PDP in the forthcoming elections in the state which will also herald the defeat of the PDP in the state during the governorship election.
“You and I know that by 2019, PDP will be past tense because our party will win the 2019 governorship election in the state.”
Asked whether the party is satisfied with the state electoral empire handling of the local government poll in the state, Eze pointed out that everything has been streamlined, and noted that the body has shown some measure of understanding in the whole process.
“ The electoral body wanted to fix the amount to be paid for the Expression of Interest form and other forms for the election, but, we, in APC, protested against this method because we want a level playing ground for all candidates in the election.
“So, after all said and done, we have finally fixed price for the forms. Chairmanship candidate form is N50,000 while counsellorship is N30,000; this is to enable our members participate in the forthcoming elections.”