APC Chairman’s Aide Condemns Media Campaign On Yilwatda Over Outcome Of Primary Election
A Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to the All Progressive Congress (APC) National Chairman, Mr. Abombola Tooki, has accused unidentified political actors of carrying out a media campaign aimed at discrediting his principal, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, following the conclusion of the party’s primary elections across the country.
In a statement issued on Friday, Tooki described the allegations and negative reports circulating in some sections of the media as a deliberate effort to spread falsehood, blackmail and misinformation in response to the outcome of the primaries.
Tooki stated that while it is normal for democratic contests to produce winners and losers, it is unacceptable for dissatisfied aspirants and their supporters to resort to what he called character assassination and propaganda rather than pursue established internal party mechanisms for resolving disputes.
He emphasized that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had already put in place a transparent framework through which aggrieved aspirants could submit petitions and seek redress through duly constituted appeal committees.
“The NWC has assured all stakeholders that every complaint arising from the primaries will be treated fairly, transparently and strictly on its merit,” he said.
Tooki also contended that some individuals were attempting to undermine the party’s internal democratic processes by taking their grievances to the media before the conclusion of the appeal process.
According to him, the guidelines governing the conduct of the primaries were clear, stressing that results from various levels were expected to be collated appropriately while the formal declaration of winners would only follow the completion of the appeal process.
He explained that the procedure was designed to ensure fairness, transparency and the constitutional right of dissatisfied aspirants to seek redress before the relevant committees.
He further stated that the appeal committees, working in conjunction with the NWC, were expected to thoroughly review all petitions before final decisions were taken.
The media aide accused some party members of disregarding due process and attempting to impose preferred candidates contrary to party regulations and democratic principles.
Tooki maintained that the ongoing attacks against his principal were not motivated by concerns about democracy or fairness but by personal political interests.
He called on party members and supporters to disregard what he described as false narratives and distorted impressions being circulated in certain quarters, while reaffirming his commitment to party unity, justice and the sustenance of democratic values within the APC.
He also called on stakeholders to allow the party’s internal dispute-resolution mechanisms to run their course and await the outcome of the appeals process before drawing conclusions on the conduct and outcome of the primaries.