It is a tradition that would have changed had the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), consider refunding money to aspirants, who sought the party’s ticket for the governorship election in Kogi State but lost.
While Oshiomhole claimed that the party received no request for refund from any of the losing aspirants, the party Chairman made clear that the party has no intention of changing its tradition any time soon. He however, urged the losing aspirants to stick to the initial agreement of rallying round the flag bearer instead of challenging the outcome of the primary in court.
Oshiomhole who spoke with reporters following a meeting with the 16 aspirants who purchased the party’s nomination form to contest the primary, said it was not the first time the party was conducting primaries and has a tradition, which has to be maintained.
He said, “Our party is guided by rules. If there are issues that we need to discuss, those are APC issues and not meant for the press. We are not doing an election for the first time. We have traditions and we don’t have any application before us."
Speaking further he said, “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.
“So, winning or losing a primary is not a statement of your integrity, your capacity, your capability or your intellect. It is simply a fact that once you have more than one candidate and you have only one vacancy, only one person will win.”
