…APC appeal panel resumes sitting
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary appeal committee which would decide the fate of Tony Nwoye who emerged as the party’s standard bearer for the Anambra State governorship election began sitting in Abuja yesterday.
The party’s primary has been marred by allegations of irregularities and imposition especially from one of the aspirants, Senator Andy Uba, who wrote a petition to the Hassan Lawal-led Appeal Committee.
Senator Uba was not seen at the venue of the sitting yesterday, but Nwoye was sighted around 1.00pm. He was drilled by members of the committee for 45 minutes, after which he told newsmen that he had confidence in whatever report the committee would come up with.
When asked if he has reached out to other aspirants who contested against him, he said that all other aspirants except Senator Uba were on the same page with him. He said that efforts to reach out to Senator Uba after his emergence as the party’s candidate for dialogue and reconciliation was rebuffed, by the lawmaker.
“Andy Uba is the only aspirant who refused to talk to me. I called him, I sent an SMS to him, I even got to his house but he refused to open his gate. As for the other aspirants, I have met with all of them.
“I came here with all the wards and local government party chairmen and secretaries from Anambra State who came to support me while I appear before the Appeal Panel. At the hearing, I was asked if it was true that members of NANS beat up delegates, but I told them it was not true because no member of NANS, former or current, was part of the primary. I told them that all the delegates that voted were delegates statutorily expected to vote.
“My mandate comes from God and should be left alone. It is not about Tony Nwoye but about these people who suffered all the night to vote for me. I felt for them and I have no fears that the panel will nullify the primary,” Nwoye said.
While explaining the position of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) regarding the primary, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi, said that the report of the panel would be the final determinant.
“As I speak with you, we have not made any definite pronouncement on the Anambra State governorship primary because it is also important for us to recognise that there are procedures for everything. The procedure for primary within our party as you know provides for certain windows for people who are dissatisfied to lay their grievances or complaints before the Appeal Panel. But we have not received the report of the Appeal Panel and so we wait because we don’t know what they will recommend. We are confident that we will be able resolve whatever the issues are and then go into the election and we are also confident that we are going to win,” the party’s spokesman, added.