Jethro Ibileke/Benin
As members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State, prepare to elect candidates for the March 3 local government election, a former governorship candidate in the State, Blessing Agbomhere, has warned the leadership of the party against imposition and disenfranchisement of candidates.
The local primary election where Councillors and Chairmanship candidates for the 18 local government councils would emerge holds on Wednesday, January 23.
Agbomhere who gave the warning during an interview with journalists in Benin, also condemned the planned disenfranchisement of former Local Government officials from contesting in the primaries.
He noted that the barring of certain persons from seeking elective offices under the Edo APC should have started during the 2016 governorship election, adding that the action is undemocratic and unacceptable as it is capable of causing disunity within the party.
“If they wanted to place this caveat, they should have started it from the 2016 governorship election. Godwin Obaseki worked in government with Oshiomhole, he contested and became Governor, Philip Shaibu was in government, he contested and became Deputy Governor. Oshiomhole who just retired from the governorship seat is asking for appointment at the centre.
“I will always support of good governance and the rule of law. The beauty of democracy is the guarantee of the right of every individual, one of which is the right to vote and be voted for.
“I am not against those who have not been in position in the past, they should contest and I will support those who are coming with innovative ideas but a few individuals do not have the right to stop or bar anyone or former officials of the local council from contesting, while others who have worked in the state house are contesting freely.
“Anybody can endorse any candidate but it should not amount to imposition or forcing the party machinery to manipulate the process of election in an orchestrated effort to favour a particular aspirant,” Agbomhere said.