Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has defended the party’s controversial substitution of some candidates after its primaries, insisting the changes emerged from a legitimate internal appeal process following the review of more than 720 petitions submitted by aggrieved aspirants.

Speaking in an Interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Morka dismissed allegations that the ruling party arbitrarily replaced candidates or imported individuals who did not participate in the primaries, maintaining that every decision flowed from established procedures contained in the party’s constitution and guidelines.

“We received over 720 petitions from those who contested in that election. And 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 report 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 legitimate outcomes of our primaries.”

Responding to concerns that the APC violated the Electoral Act by substituting candidates after the primaries, Morka argued that a primary election extends beyond the voting exercise itself and includes post-election dispute resolution mechanisms. “Primary election is a process. It’s not an event that appeal process is an integral part of the primary election process. It’s not a separate process. And it’s not a process invented by the party to cause mischief.”

He rejected suggestions that individuals who never participated in the APC primaries were handed party tickets. “I’m not aware of any such case that you are alluding to about those who didn’t participate, who never bought forms, who were not screened, who didn’t participate in primaries, all of a sudden handed tickets. Look, I’m not aware. If you have any such example, please mention it, and I will go back and do my own investigation.”

Addressing concerns that aggrieved aspirants could undermine the party by supporting opposition candidates, Morka acknowledged that dissatisfaction was inevitable in competitive elections. “When they don’t win, naturally some people definitely have a reason to be dissatisfied. And this is why we took our time to go through these appeal processes to make sure that there was no case we didn’t give the time of day to thoroughly review.”

He explained that only one candidate could ultimately emerge from each contest and insisted that the party’s responsibility was to ensure due process rather than satisfy every aspirant. “What we say to them is that everyone cannot be flag bearer our engagements are on already 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.”

Morka also dismissed allegations that the review process was manipulated to settle political scores in states where governors were engaged in power struggles with other influential party leaders. “Primaries are not infallible primaries are not immune to irregularities the system, the law, everything already expect that sometimes things don’t go right, so there must be a mechanism to review that when others complain.”

He questioned claims that the APC deliberately overturned the wishes of party members in favour of powerful interests. “What exactly would be the party’s incentive to just intentionally and deliberately miscarry the election against a sitting governor?”

Responding to suggestions that the APC was showing signs of anxiety ahead of the next general election despite controlling most state governments, Morka said. “All the elections conducted in this country since the 2023 general elections we have won them, including the most recent elections we won massively, bigly, to use the words of Donald Trump.”

He dismissed claims that the ruling party feared the opposition. “We are working hard to win the next election, like we’ve won in all the by-elections the idea that we’re afraid, that is utterly ridiculous. We are working hard to win the next election.” (Arise News)

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