Refuse to sell expression of interest forms to candidates in privateThe ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has provided an explanation for why it hasn't held primaries nationwide for open elected seats.
In an interview with reporters in Abuja, Dr. Sulaiman Argungu, the national organizing secretary of the APC, stated that the party is holding off on moving forward with the process until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has completed his ambassadorial and appointments to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The lawmaker from Sokoto also stated that the delay in starting to sell expressions of interest forms to candidates was due to the necessity to create a favorable atmosphere for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold the by-election.
The APC leader also criticized the claims made by some that the party is secretly selling candidacy and expression of interest papers to potential candidates.
He clarified that INEC expects certain members of the federal and state legislatures to be selected as Nigeria's ambassadors to foreign nations in the future.
The INEC stated that while they are working to compile thorough lists, they believe they must take a break and wait for the ambassadors to be appointed. They anticipate that some of the present elected officials will be included on the list of new ambassadors.
"They won't want to hold a by-election today just to find out the next day that there are a lot of open seats that need to be filled again.
"They are simply taking their time to make sure that everything is put together thoroughly for all of these by-elections; once the arrangements are finalized, they will announce the schedule nationally to allow all political parties to comply, and the APC will make a public announcement for all of its plans."
Argungu went on to say that it is absurd for anyone to think that the APC may be surreptitiously selling nomination papers to chosen candidates, emphasizing how unfeasible such a notion is.
"Formal sales? By whom? When nomination forms are available for purchase, they will be made available to the general public. As is customary, any party candidate wishing to run in the primary may do so. We will notify everyone of the sale of forms.
"To help elect candidates for the open seats, we will offer forms to any party member who indicates interest in taking part in the primary.
"Nomination forms are not yet being sold in Surulere or any other constituency, and no date for elections has been set," he stated.