Some members of the State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State have denied reports suggesting that the party had endorsed the state governor, Yahaya Bello, as the party’s candidate for the November 16 governorship election.
The members, led by the party’s secretary in the state, Mr Salam Adejo, spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday.
Adejo said while it was true that party executives and those that worked for Bello in 2015 had discussion with him on Saturday in Abuja, the issue of endorsement was not part of the meeting’s agenda.
He said, “Our discussion ended on the need for peace so that the party could move forward. He said he needed sincere peace and we agreed on terms. There was nothing like endorsement.
“The governor, at the meeting, requested that the case in court against him be withdrawn.
“We told him there were some processes to be followed. The issue of withdrawing the case is subject to another negotiation.”
Adejo said it was not in the state executives position to endorse any aspirants, adding that “the party’s governorship ticket was open to every qualifed party member.
“We did not endorse anyone and we are not planning to. The party’s ticket is open to everyone in the party,” he added.
Asked if Bello’s performance is good enough to earn him the APC ticket, Adejo said that performance would speak for him.
“The party has its own criteria on what it wants from a candidate. If someone has performed well or is an achiever, it will speak for him,” he said.