By Obinna Uballa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly expressed displeasure over controversies trailing the recent All Progressives Congress (APC) legislative primaries across several states, insisting that candidate imposition must not define the party’s internal processes.
Reliable sources familiar with a late-night meeting between the President and South-West APC leaders at his Bourdillon residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, disclosed that Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to democratic principles within the ruling party.
According to sources at the meeting, the President stated that although governors were granted the responsibility of coordinating party affairs in their respective states, such authority was not intended to encourage arbitrary imposition of candidates.
“I am a party constitutional democrat. Yes, I gave governors the privilege to coordinate and take charge of party affairs in their respective states, but I did not ask anyone to impose candidates indiscriminately,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.
The President was also said to have warned against situations where individuals oversee processes in which they have direct personal interests, stressing that “no one should be a judge in his own case.”
Tinubu reportedly directed the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru to take immediate steps to restore confidence and integrity in areas where free and fair primaries did not take place.
The APC primaries conducted nationwide in recent days have generated widespread controversy, especially in states including Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Rivers, Benue and Adamawa.
Several aspirants and party members alleged irregularities, intimidation of delegates, manipulation of voting procedures and the imposition of preferred candidates by influential stakeholders.
Amid growing tension within the ruling party, Yilwatda had earlier warned that any member found instigating violence or undermining the party’s internal democratic process would face disciplinary measures, including possible suspension.
The latest intervention by the President is expected to calm rising discontent among aggrieved aspirants and party loyalists ahead of the next phase of APC’s electoral activities.
