By: Ovie Ohin-Iwemah
Leaders of the defunct three legacy parties that merged to form the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta Central Senatorial District have reaffirmed their unalloyed support for APC aspirant and human right activist, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, in the forthcoming Senatorial bye-election.
The leaders had earlier in a signed communiqué unanimously adopted the candidature of the Uvwie Chief as their preferred choice, a decision that attracted series of applause from members of the public. However, deputy National chairman South-South of the APC, Chief Tom Ikimi, in a well-circulated press statement released on Sunday, denounced the purported endorsement stressing that the “reports and publications are neither true nor authorised, and that they “should therefore, be disregarded completely”
While defending their position and re-affirming their support for their preferred aspirants, the party leaders in another communiqué release Monday, explained that their decision shouldn’t be misconstrued as party primaries, but a political choice by major stakeholders as to who they believe can deliver the party at the general elections.
“Having studied the statement credited to Chief Tom Ikimi in various media reports of Monday, September 16th, 2013, we the Chairmen, exco members, state officers and leaders of the defunct ACN, ANPP and CPC parties in Delta Central Senatorial District wish to state as follows: “That we stand by our earlier resolution adopting Olorogun (Barr.) Festus Keyamo as our preferred choice for the Delta Central Senatorial elections. That we see nothing wrong in giving our support to one aspirant over another. We are not saying this is the final”, the communiqué read in part.
The elders who argued that APC is not a new party as being claimed by Ikimi, said as it is, “registered members of the three legacy parties, namely: ACN, ANPP and CPC are automatic/foundation members of APC. This is a merger of existing parties and not a new party”.
They however stated emphatically that the election is a Delta Central affair and that any attempt to “ambush our beloved party from any individual or groups under any guise” will be resisted, they submitted.