Addressing journalists in Lokoja on Saturday under the aegis of the Kogi West APC Leaders Forum, the leader of group fomer Speaker of the State House of Assemly, Umar Alfa Imam maintained that Aro emerged as the valid winner of the APC senatorial primary through a transparent and duly concluded electoral process.
According to the forum, both the APC Primary Election Committee and the party’s Appeal Committee upheld Aro’s victory, while reports from relevant institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), formed part of the processes that culminated in the submission of his name to INEC.
The leaders argued that any attempt to replace Aro after the conclusion of the nomination process would violate the Electoral Act as well as the APC’s internal democratic procedures.
They appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by ensuring that due process prevails and urged him to caution influential party leaders, particularly the member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon. James Faleke, against actions capable of undermining the integrity of the party’s primary election.
According to the forum, allowing vested interests to overturn the outcome of a duly conducted primary would weaken confidence in the APC’s internal democracy and set an unhealthy precedent for future elections.
The leaders further stressed that under the Electoral Act, a candidate whose name has been submitted to INEC can only be substituted in the event of voluntary withdrawal through a written notice to the commission or upon the candidate’s death.
“Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro has neither withdrawn his candidature nor is he dead. Therefore, there is no legal basis for any substitution,” the forum stated.
They consequently called on INEC to reject any attempt to alter the party’s nomination outside the provisions of the law and urged the electoral commission to remain guided by due process and the rule of law.
The forum also appealed to President Tinubu, the leadership of the APC in Kogi State and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to uphold the outcome of the primary election by allowing Aro’s nomination to stand.
While reaffirming their loyalty to Governor Ododo and the APC, the leaders said safeguarding the integrity of party primaries was essential to strengthening democracy and sustaining members’ confidence in the party.
They urged APC supporters across Kogi West to remain peaceful, law-abiding and committed to pursuing justice through constitutional and lawful means.
The forum also commended President Tinubu for approving the rehabilitation of the Obajana–Kabba–Egbe–Omu-Aran–
