2023: Imposition of candidates will lead to APC losing seats, destroy party – Chieftain

EMMANUEL AWARI, Jalingo

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Ben Adaji, has advised the party to avoid the imposition of candidates and the emergence of party leadership towards the 2023 general elections.

He gave the advice on Wednesday while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo.

Adaji, who contested in 2015 and 2019 for the Ankpa, Omala and Olomaboro Federal constituency in the House of Representatives elections in Kogi said: Imposition of candidates would have negative impact on the party in the coming elections.

He said his experience of the past where some members were denied participation after the expression of interest was capable of causing the crisis that would destroy the party in the future, noting that the same imposing of candidates and neglect on the part of party leadership caused the fall of the PDP which was the largest political party to lose to the APC.

“If the APC will do the same as PDP, then it will lose the same way PDP lost.  I advised the party to allow the party members to choose leaders at all levels as well as allow candidates to est their strengths. I also call on the youths to resist any imposition of leaders in 2023 elections”, he stated.

He also advised the party to be wary of some defectors into its fold.

“We want the APC to be different from PDP in all its conducts having emerged through opposition to defeat PDP. For APC to have snatched power from PDP, the largest political party in Africa, that means people look at the party as a better alternative to the PDP.

“Therefore, the APC must be very careful in carrying out all its activities without bias and injustice.

Adaji advised the party officials at all levels to allow a free playground for aspirants to test their strengths and popularity.

According to him, without justice, the party should be ready to contend with stiff resistance and crisis because candidates will not accept to be shortchanged anymore.

“I equally call on the youth to resist vehemently any attempt by the party to impose candidates for 2023 elections. We expect the APC to correct the imbalances that caused the fall of the PDP and build on those mistakes to consolidate on its existence”, he added.

He cautioned APC to be wary of the new entrants some of who might have contributed significantly to the woes of their former parties and may wish to perpetuate the same evil acts in their new party.

“The problem of political parties is not peculiar to the APC alone, but it should allow justice to prevail and that will give the party the uniqueness as a mechanism for internal democracy”, he said.

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