Party Unity: Abia APC Mulls Refunding Primary Elections Losers Cost of Forms

To pacify aggrieved aspirants from the recent primaries, the Abia State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is considering refunding the costs of nomination forms to those who lost. State Chairman, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, announced the party is exploring multiple options to maintain unity and ensure no members defect

Chukwu, disclosed this to newsmen at a Press Briefing where he reviewed the just-concluded APC primaries in the state.

Though he said the exercise was without any major incident, he pointed out that not everyone, particularly aspirants who lost out, would be happy with the outcomes.

Recall that at a Pre-Primary Election Stakeholders meeting, party leaders had expressed fears over the unwieldy number of 99 aspirants chasing 36 elective positions in the state and appealed to the contestants to approach the primaries with the spirit of sportsmanship and not to indulge in actions that may lead to disintegration of the party because they lost.

In the aftermath of the primaries, laced with some negative sentiments, Chukwu said for the sake of peace and unity, the party was considering trouble-shooting measures, including setting up of a reconciliation committee, refund of money for purchase of forms and offer of appointments, to pacify aggrieved aspirants who failed at the primaries.

Chukwu noted that there would only be one winner at a time. “All these positions, it cannot be occupied by two people. It can only be one person,” he said, adding that because of the huge number of aspirants, the party took proactive steps to forestall any post-primary crisis.

“Even before the primary election commenced, we were proactive to identify where some of these challenges may come from. Nobody is happy losing an election or losing anything.

“But we have put measures in place to ensure that from next week, as soon as the primary elections are concluded, we will set up, automatically, a peace and reconciliation committee.

He assured that losers would not be left in the cold. “For those Aspirants, there is no limit we cannot go to pacify them. We are now trying to ensure that the party has a robust reward system. So if we don’t give you something in the state, we’ll get you something from the federal.

“So, we cannot afford to leave anybody outside. We are making sure that nobody leaves the party on the account of the outcome of these party primaries. We are doing things differently,” he assured.

According to him, the SWC has been engaging with the aspirants.

“We are engaging at all levels and where necessary, we will see how we can reduce the financial burden of the loss of election, either through the refund of the money they spent to purchase the forms or look for other palliative measures that can cushion the effect of the loss,” he said.

He assured that loyal party members would be rewarded, saying that the party has put in place, a “robust reward system. He warned that henceforth, anyone who does not show commitment to the party would not benefit from it.

“We have continued to ensure that our members are rewarded based on loyalty and commitment to the party. This is no longer a time because you know somebody in Abuja you did not work for the party and you want to be appointed minister or commissioner of different commissions.

He highlighted the importance of party unity, saying it would facilitate electoral victory. “The party is solid, on ground, in Abia State and the President and Commander-in-Chief of the government is poised and committed to winning in Abia, not just the presidential election, but all other elections,” he said.

He said the primaries were successful in the state and singled out some party chieftains for commendation: House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, immediate-past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, for their financial support to the party.

He also commended security agencies and party faithful who played different roles that contributed to the success of the Primaries across the state.