Ganduje who stated this during a meeting with Edo State Stakeholders late Monday night, insisted that the state is an APC state.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed September 21, 2024, for the Edo State governorship election.

According to a schedule of activities for the election released by the APC, the sale of nomination and expression of interest and delegates forms that commenced last week Wednesday will end on January 29.

The APC will elect its candidate for the governorship race at a primary election to be held on February 17.

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Speaking on reclaiming the party’s mandate in the state, Ganduje said, “Edo is an APC state. Now we have to take Edo back. We have only one state from the South-South for the greatest party in Africa, it’s not acceptable. We were able to get only Cross River State after crossing so many rivers, we succeeded in getting Cross River State. But Edo State, we must get it.”

The APC national chairman declared that it would not be business as usual, adding that the party is a progressive party with clear-cut objectives.

He added, “Two, we have to improve our internal democracy – we have to deepen and widen it. We need to understand the party and its manifesto…its rules and regulations. We need to understand its philosophy. We need to move towards having a party ideology so that we will not be an ordinary political association whereby everybody can come in just to win the election. You have to believe in the doctrine of the party – become a full member of the party.

“To widen it, we need to increase our followership. So internal democracy is very important. We have to be transparent and at the same time, we have to also adopt a guided democracy where we can discuss issues so that we limit if possible the number of contests. Even though it’s not a crime if we have a large number. The party will get more revenue but that’s not the issue.”

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On the number of APC Edo governorship aspirants, the former Kano State Governor stated, “The issue is that if we can leave it through agreement, the better for us.

“Some know that at this material time, maybe because of the location; maybe because of some antecedents, they may not be the best candidate at the moment. That doesn’t mean they will never be a good candidate but through that consensus, we will be able to narrow down so that we have candidates”.

Also speaking, the Senator Representing Edo North Senatorial District, Oshiomole alleged that the party’s defeat in the 2020 governorship was caused by some party members.

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The APC’s former national chairman stated, “Democracy based on popular participation might be more difficult but cannot be faulted. It allows us to build consensus. It allows us to have conflict and in the end, provided we understand that the majority will have their way while the minority has their say.

“We are particularly determined, as you can see everybody here has a robust past and even present. We are determined to reclaim Edo State. I used the word reclaim because Edo is ours. We lost it due to several factors some of which were caused by some APC elements.

“Nobody needs to lecture Mr Chairman on this because even as a governor of Kano state you offered to lead the last campaign and even relocated. Almost all the Kano state executive council relocated to Benin for days just to ensure that we the last governorship election that we won it, but unfortunately not everybody believes in party participation to the extent that you did.

“On our part, we have tried to initiate dialogue among our aspirants. It is no secret, that at the time we had the dialogue, I think they (aspirants) were 27. I learned it has increased to 29 now. The process is ongoing, and the struggle continues. So we are looking forward to a healthy celebration”.

Punch