The National Publicity of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, on Wednesday, disclosed that disgruntled aspirants from losing at the presidential primary have a right to air their grievances.
This is even as he reassured that the leadership of the APC is working hard to reunite all aggrieved members and chieftains of the party ahead of the 2023 elections.
Tinubu had polled 1,271 votes at the last primary to clinch the sole presidential ticket at stake.
He defeated former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and 11 other aspirants at the end of the Special National Convention of the party in Abuja.
Other aspirants included Senate President, Ahmad Lawal; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajuba; Senior Pastor of Citadel Global Community Church, Tunde Bakare; former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, among others.
The race for the presidential flagbearer started with 23 aspirants, but nine withdrew shortly before the commencement of voting at the convention.
Osinbajo, who had been at loggerheads with his estranged godfather, distanced himself from Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
Two weeks after Senator Kashim Shettima was unveiled as his running mate, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; a former minister of Youths and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung; and Senator Ishaku Abbo (representing Adamawa North), at a gathering of northern Christian leaders said Tinubu made a fatal error by agreeing to run on a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
A livid Lawal, who was the chairman on the occasion, exclaimed that it was a grand conspiracy against northern Christians.
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was another APC ex-aspirant who stirred the hornets’ nest when he alleged that delegates who voted at the party’s presidential primary were bribed to influence the outcome.
He said many of those induced with money had since regretted their action.
The former Rivers State Governor spoke at an event to mark the 60th birthday of the founder and General Overseer of the Abundant Life Evangelistic Mission, Apostle Eugene Ogu, in Port Harcourt.
Reacting to the alleged cold war and nonchalant approach of the aggrieved stalwarts to Tinubu’s campaign, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, said the party was not resting on its oars in its bid to unite all camps before the 2023 election.
Morka made the statement when he appeared on Talk Point, a popular political programme on Lagos Television on Wednesday afternoon.
“I am not aware of any war, let alone a cold or hot one. People went into primaries to compete and find favour with the electorate, in this case, the primary voters in our party. At the end of it, Asiwaju prevailed and I think that every other aspirant has the right if they choose to have that momentary period they disagree on why they didn’t win.
“Even as sportsmen, we didn’t see anyone really go out to scream ‘blue murder.’ But people have the right to feel somewhat dissatisfied or entirely unhappy with the outcome.
“We are working on the inside to address the dissatisfaction or disaffection we may have from some of our members who may be aggrieved. We are working hard to bring them together.
“But fortunately for us, we have eminent men and women, great citizens of this country who have made their own mark and competed in that primary and understand the whole logic of competition.”
Morka also stated, unlike the speculation making the rounds that the ruling party is ill-prepared for the 2023 elections, Tinubu’s sustained consultation with relevant stakeholders is enough proof to justify that they are more than prepared.
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