The Lagos State Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC , Mr Joe Igbokwe has downplayed the provisions in the Article 20 of the APC Constitution mandating primary elections for aspirants into elective offices saying Lagos APC has its unique ways of picking candidates.
Igbokwe, said this yesterday on a radio programme of the City FM 105.1 monitored in Lagos.
He said the hullabaloo that trailed the alleged imposition of candidates was not necessary arguing that what is important is for candidates to deliver good governance to the people.
His words, “Forget about the APC constitution, we have our own ways of doing things in Lagos that has been working for us since 1999. We cannot allow people to just come from nowhere to use money to hijack our tickets. We reward members who stood by us through thick and thin.
“These are people that have suffered with us on empty stomachs. Moreover, we are interested in candidates that can win election for us at the polls. And this system has worked for us perfectly. You can see developments everywhere in Lagos”.
The Lagos APC Spokesman was also asked why the party collected over half a million naira from hundreds of aspirants with the promise to conduct primaries when the leadership of the party knew they would handpick candidates.
He said the aspirants had since been told to come and pick their bank drafts at the party secretariat in Ikeja. “We never obtained these monies under false pretense. Their bank drafts are intact at the party secretariat in Acme(Ikeja). They can come and collect it”, he said.
When asked if Lagos APC was a commercial bank where aspirants deposited money for withdrawal in the future, Igbokwe declined comments.
In the same manner, Igbokwe claimed ignorance of the swapping of candidates in Somolu local government and two other local governments two days to the election.
