Idara Jerome, Uyo

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka has given reasons for the party’s substitution of some candidates after its primaries, saying that no aspirant who did not participate in the primary process was declared a winner.

He said this on Tuesday during an interview on ARISE NEWS, addressing allegations that the APC handed tickets to individuals who did not participate in the primaries.

He acknowledged that some aspirants were dissatisfied with the outcome of the primaries but said the party received more than 720 petitions from aspirants. He explained that the petitions were reviewed by the appeal committees, and the substitutions followed their recommendations after a further review by the National Working Committee. He added that the party carefully reviewed every petition before reaching its decision.

“We received over 720 petitions from those who contested in that election. These petitions were reviewed by the appeal committees. Recommendations were made to the National Working Committee. But the National Working Committee of our party, in its wisdom, also took responsibility to review the reports of the appeal committees and to re-evaluate those cases.

“And at the end of them, we made those changes that you are discussing. So these are the legitimate outcomes of our primaries,” he said.

Responding to claims that the party violated the Electoral Act by substituting candidates after the primaries, Morka said the primary election was a “process” and not an “event,” explaining that “the appeal process is an integral part of the primary election process and not a separate process.”

He also said the party had begun engaging dissatisfied aspirants to show them that the process was transparent and not driven by personal interests.

“What we said to them is that everyone cannot be the flag bearer. Our engagements are already on to reach individuals like this, to reassure them that this is not personal. Nothing has been done that is arbitrary. Nobody has just been favoured with tickets,” he added.

On claims that the APC awarded tickets to individuals who did not purchase nomination forms and never participated in the primaries, Morka said he was not aware of any such case.

“I’m not aware of any such case that you are alluding to. Those who didn’t participate, who never bought forms, who were not screened, who didn’t participate in the primaries, all of a sudden had tickets.

“Look, I’m not aware. If you have any such examples, please mention them and I will go back and do my own investigation,” Morka said.

Speaking on claims that the APC was afraid of the outcome of the 2027 election, Morka dismissed the claim, insisting the party remained confident ahead of the 2027 election.

“All the elections conducted in this country since the 2023 general elections, we have won them, including the most recent elections, which we won massively, bigly, to use the words of Donald Trump.

“We are working hard to win the next election, just as we’ve won all the by-elections. The idea that we are afraid is utterly ridiculous. We are working hard to win the next election.”