…Group raises the alarm over “unity list”

•Says Buhari’s directive is being undermined

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

A group, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Grassroots Youths for Change, on Tuesday raised the alarm over what it called alleged plans by sone state governors and leaders of APC in states controlled by the opposition parties to put together a unity list of anointed candidates to be formally ratified by ballot at its June 23 national convention in Abuja.
The group said in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its national publicity secretary, Ainofenokhai Isa that there were growing agitations in the various states over the development, which according to it could precipitate massive post-convention crises and defections.
According to the group, “it has come to our knowledge that a list of anointed candidates to fill the various positions ceded to the respective states has been compiled preparatory to its endorsement at the convention holding in Abuja.
“This is a clear disregard for the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that a level playing field should be provided for all qualified party members who are interested in occupying any position in the national executive committee (NEC).
“Undermining the president’s directive has implications for internal democracy and cohesion in the party. It also has the potentialities to erode the gains that the party made by the president’s decision to overrule the NEC on tenure extension that it originally granted to itself”, it said.
The group lamented that the gains were now being eroded through the plan to push through a unity list of anointed candidates at the convention with a view to putting other candidates at a great disadvantage.
“It is sad that the APC is promoting imposition of candidates in complete disdain and disregard for our recent history. Imposition of candidates wrecked the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 general election,” the group said.
The group urged President Buhari to rein in by ensuring that APC does not tread that undemocratic path and that rather than embrace impunity, civility should be employed in political interactions within the party.
According to the group, “The best thing for the APC is to treat all the candidates equally, allow a level playing field, encourage and ensure that the will of party members and delegates is respected.”