The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, yesterday assured all the aspirants seeking elective positions on the party’s platform of transparent primary elections.

Speaking at APGA’s Retreat and Book Presentation held in Awka, the governor admonished the aspirants to work at presenting good ideas to the party delegates to enhance their chances of emerging the party’s candidate, instead of using financial inducement.

He said: “The party would ensure a peaceful and successful primary election to select those who would fly APGA’s flags in 2019 general elections.”

Obiano, however, warned those seeking the party’s mandate to desist from employing the services of thugs, saying that anyone caught in the act would be disqualified.

In his address, the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Victor Oye, explained that the retreat was put in place to give the aspirants opportunity to share their ideas on how to enhance the fortunes of the party.

He observed that the party had realised its vision of turning it into a formidable movement to produce numerous legislators and governors in 2019.

Oye further announced that APGA was embarking on the construction of a befitting national headquarters in Abuja as it had been operating from rented building since its inception.

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Godwin Maduka, charged political aspirants to avoid breeding mischief in the polity saying that the aspirants were expected to project quality leadership through the invention of a meaningful Nigeria.

He called on political leaders to offer quality services to the citizens by being good servants and avoid being swelled by the trappings of political office.

Presenting a paper titled, “Parties, Politicians and Policies in Nigeria: From Election Platforms to Transformative Change Agents”, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, berated political parties in the country for their lack of good ideologies.

While saying that APGA was better placed to transform into a party with progressive pragmatism in the country, he called for party loyalty and discipline as against the current trend of defections and support for opposition after losing party nominations.

The National Secretary of APGA, Mr Labaran Maku, who spoke on the theme, “Responsibilities of aspirants to APGA”, observed that the party had the mandate to raise leaders who would be useful to the society.

He harped on the need for political leaders and aspirants to surrender their plans to God to guide them in decision making.

In another paper presentation, a legal practitioner, Mr. Emeka Obegolu, called on political aspirants to always study their parties manifestos noting that it would aid them to better articulate what they intend to realise.

The book, “APGA, the Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs”, was reviewed by Chief Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, who was represented by a Law Teacher, Dr. Cyril Obika.

Highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the book by the Chief Launcher, Dr. Godwin Maduka with the sum of twenty million naira.

Dignitaries and aspirants from different parts of the country, including Senators Victor Umeh, Ifeanyi Ararume, Stella Oduah, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Chief Ikedi Ohakim Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, Frank Nneji, Uche Onyeagocha, Dr. Henry Okoli- Abor among others graced the occasion.