…Considers Central Senatorial Zone For Candidate.
National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has boasted that the lackluster performance of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, will guarantee victory for the APC during the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election.
Basiru spoke exclusively to New men at the national headquarters of the ruling party, in Abuja, arguing that the clamour by both the traditional and religious institutions in the State for APC to take over will facilitate its victory.
He, however assured that the party’s leadership will do everything at its disposal to conduct a transparent, free, fair and acceptable primary to elect a formidable and electable candidate to fly the flag of the party.
The ruling party’s chief scribe also argued that the governorship ticket is very open for grab by any political party due to the poor performance of the incumbent governor.
Asked what is giving him confidence that APC will win Anambra governorship poll, he said: “We are working to ensure that we have a credible candidate that has the necessary appeal to be able to win election, just like we did in Edo and Ondo governorship elections.”
“And of course, when you also consider the lackluster performance of the present governor of the Anambra state, you know that it is fertile ground for our party to secure victory.
“And the key stakeholders, both in terms of traditional and religious institutions are yearning for a leadership based on our party, the APC, will provide. So, I am very confident that with adequate mobilisation, we are going to get victory in Anambra State,” he said.
On the factors that the party will consider, especially the zone to settle for in settling for its candidate, Basiru said: “When you talk about zoning, of course, the search our party has done, we are looking at Central Senatorial zone, and because of the fact that the present occupier is from the South zone, we may not look at that area.
“But, ultimately, out out choice of candidacy will be based on capacity and ability to deliver. So, we are not closing our eyes totally to any of the zones, in terms of selection of our candidate. We are going to look at competence, ability, and, of course, our popular appeal of anybody that aspire to become our candidate.
“So, when you are not in power, you cannot, put yourself in the pigeonhole of a particular zone. You have to look at the zone, the character and content of the candidate that will be able to deliver in that regard,” he noted.
Acknowledging that though conduct of primaries has always come with challenges in the State chapter of the party, the Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led leadership will put in place measures to avoid them.
He revealed that the party will replicate the victory it recorded in both Edo and Ondo States, stressing: “At least, under the leadership of Dr Umar Ganduje, you can see the way we have been able to handle the primaries and post primary conflicts in Edo and Ondo states and even in the Imo and Kogi States, as well as the by-elections, we have been able to manage the post primary conflict.
“We believe that we will be able to also do that in Anambra State. In any event, by the time we ensure that we conduct a free, fair and credible primary to elect a candidate that has appeal to the majority of the members, we have minimised, the atmosphere of friction.
“So, we are confident and our goal is to ensure that we have a candidate that is appealing and that is able to galvanize the members of our party, irrespective of whichever zone he comes from, and at the same time resonate with the mass of the people in Anambra State,” he said.
On whether the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah weakened the strengthen of APC in State, he said: “Of course, with due respect, no human being, even myself, is indispensable. Yes, part of the reality is that people are supposed to die, but, no political party would be able to be weakened just because of the exit of a particular individual.
“And of course, there are also giants in the our party in Anambra State to ensure that we are able to coast to victory,” he assured.
