Governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has said that the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to adopt indirect primaries for Rivers State cannot override the earlier decision of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Abe stated that the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, had during the party’s last National Executive Committee meeting, listed Rivers State as one of the states where direct primaries would be held to elect candidates of the party for the 2019 general election.
Abe, who spoke in an interview in Port Harcourt while reacting to the decision of NWC of the party to adopt indirect primaries for Rivers State, said the NEC decided to adopt direct primaries in Rivers State because of the many legal issues facing the party in the state.
The frontline governorship aspirant urged his supporters to remain focused in the clamour to have direct primaries in the state, saying they will present their facts before the NWC in order to ensure that the right thing is done in the state.
Abe, who is the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly said: “I have been informed of the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hold indirect primaries in Rivers State. This decision goes against the grain of reason”.
The statement signed by Senator Abe’s spokesman, Parry Benson read in part: “First of all, direct primaries were ordered in other states including Imo State that has similar issues such as we have in Rivers State. Secondly, the National Chairman of the party at the last National Executive Committee Meeting of the party, had himself listed Rivers State as one of the states where direct primaries would be held in the country because of many legal issues that we are currently facing in the state.
“Therefore, in the light of that, I will urge all our supporters to remain focused and continue to work towards the direct primaries that will hold in our state. The decision of the National Working Committee cannot override that of the National Executive Committee of the party, nor the realities on ground in Rivers State.
“So, we should continue to mobilize and keep up our efforts to ensure that party members are given an opportunity to express their preference.
“We will bring the facts clearly before the National Working Committee and we are very confident that the right thing will be done in Rivers State,” Senator Abe said.
