By Stanley Anamali :
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has dashed the hope of a possible refund of money to aspirants, who bought the party’s ticket for the governorship election in Kogi State but lost the primary.
He disclosed this to journalists after holding a meeting with the 16 aspirants who purchased the party’s nomination form to contest the primary election in the state.
Oshiomhole said the party is not going to change its tradition by refunding their money even though the party has not received any request for refund by aspirants.
Reports has shown that The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has named a three-man appeal committees for the primaries conducted in Kogi and Bayelsa states.
The Kogi’s Indirect Primary Appeal Committee members include :Senator Abdulahi Umar Yandoma (chairman), Hajia Amina Muhammed (secretary) and Tony McFoy (member).
On the other hand, Members of Bayelsa Direct Primary Appeal Committee are Shuaibu Aruwa (chairman), Edith Newman Amadi (secretary) and Abdul Malik El-Yakub (member).
While briefing journalists, Oshiomhole said it was not the first time the party was conducting primaries and has a tradition, which has to be maintained at all times.
He also Said out of the 16 aspirants that bought the nomination and expression of interest form at the cost of N22.5 million, seven of them were not cleared to participate in the exercise for various reasons while Nine others, including Governor Yahaya Bello, were cleared.
At the end of the primary conducted by a committee led by Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar, Bello was declared winner and the APC governorship candidate for the November 16 governorship election.
Oshiomhole added: “This afternoon, we had extensive conversation as APC family to talk through issues arising from the Kogi State governorship primary, which was conducted last week.
“I am sure that you know some of those who participated or attempted to participate in the process. They are men and women who, by any criteria, can be said to be fit and proper persons to govern a state. But as you know, in democracy, if you have 16 angels, as we had, seeking the mandate of the people to produce just one person as governor, it means that 15 angels will not get it.
The APC Leader announced that all those who lost out in the process have assured the party that they will not challenge the outcome of the exercise in court, but will work for the success of the party during the election.
In attendance, all the governorship aspirants that bought nomination forms, including those cleared and those not cleared, except Admiral Usman Jibrin were present.
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