APC Confirms Candidate Changes
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that it replaced some of its candidates ahead of the forthcoming elections, explaining that the decision was taken to correct irregularities identified during the candidate selection process.
The ruling party also disclosed that it has commenced the submission of the names of its candidates for various elective positions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for publication.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the party screened about 2,500 aspirants who sought to contest on its platform. He noted that certificates of candidacy had already been issued to successful candidates, while the approved list had been forwarded to INEC.
According to Ibrahim, replacing the names of candidates is a legitimate process when irregularities are discovered.
“There is nothing unusual about replacing the name of a candidate. If it is discovered that something was not done properly, then justice demands that it be corrected,” he said.
To address concerns arising from the changes, Ibrahim said the APC had constituted a reconciliation committee to engage aspirants whose names were replaced and encourage them to remain committed to the party.
“We have established a reconciliation committee to appeal to the affected aspirants and help them understand that democracy is not a system where everyone gets exactly what they want,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that aggrieved aspirants would continue to support the APC, adding that they could still have opportunities to serve in other capacities if the party emerges victorious.
“We expect anyone who is unhappy with the decision to continue contributing to the party, with the hope that if the party succeeds, they may still be called upon to serve in another capacity, perhaps one with even greater impact than the office they initially sought,” Ibrahim added.
The party’s confirmation comes amid complaints from some APC members who alleged that their names were replaced despite years of loyalty and service to the party, raising concerns over the fairness of the selection process.
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