APC Set To Conduct Fresh Primaries In Kogi

John-Odigie-OyegunThe All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday announced that it would conduct fresh primaries to fill the vacuum created by the death of its candidate, Abubakar Audu, in the inconclusive governorship election in Kogi State.

The decision to conduct fresh primaries was in line with the statement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, granting the APC permission to find a replacement for its late candidate ahead of the December 5 date for the supplementary poll in Kogi.

Addressing journalists at the party’s national Secretariat in Abuja, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said delegates to the last primaries – which saw the emergence of the late candidate – would determine who becomes the candidate.

Mr. Oyegun was however, silent on the fate of the late Audu’s running mate, James Faleke, saying the party would take a decision after conducting fresh primaries.

“As a party, we are going to proceed with process of organising primaries to provide a substitute candidate for the late Abubakar Audu”, the party chairman declared.

While expressing his condolences to the family of late Audu on behalf of APC worldwide, the party chair said the AGF had made it public that the APC should replace the late candidate.

“He (attorney general) has made a pronouncement to the effect that all that is required is for the APC to go through the processes of providing a substitute to our late candidate.

“The INEC is also in agreement with the views of the attorney general because we have already received a letter from them formally asking us to find a replacement for the vacancy that has been created by the passing on of Prince Abubakar Audu.

“So that is what will engage the APC at this moment”, he said.

The APC would go into executive session Tuesday to decide on the modalities of the primaries, Mr. Oyegun added.