The deadline for the submission of Presidential and National Assembly candidates by the different political parties to the Independent Electoral Commission was yesterday, 18th October, 2018.
Since then, there has been questions regarding who made it and who didn't make it from IMO State APC.
In a post shared this afternoon, Mr Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the IMO State APC Publicity Secretary, took a personal swipe at the National Body of APC for substituting some candidates who actually won the primary election .
Read what he wrote below:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
MY PERSONAL STANCE ON PARTY PRIMARIES, NOMINATION AND SUBSTITUTION OF CANDIDATES IN IMO STATE
Democracy is that system of government whereby the choice of majority of the people is sacrosanct and the whims of the cabal is checked. Either as a political Party or as a nation, we cannot and should not condone a practice where some people are guaranteed the retention of a public office without regard to the wishes of the ordinary people. Political offices are not hereditary but they can be held for a very long period by the same person or political group as long as they are able to secure the confidence and support of the largest number of people. Periodic elections are indispensable to democracy and those who are afraid to participate in these elections are not worthy to hold public offices in democratic nations.
There are laid down Constitutional guidelines on the substitution of candidates who won Party primaries and unless these procedures are adhered to, especially on the VOLUNTARY withdrawal of the candidates who won the primaries, any substitution is illegal and a vent to political corruption.
As a political activist, sailor and prisoner of conscience, I shall not support any candidate who did not emerge through transparent internal Party elections to fly my Party's flag. As a Party official, I believe in the supremacy of the Party, but do not and shall not subscribe to the imposition of individual will on the majority of Party members. I am a vehement rebel against anything that brings our democracy to ridicule.
I wish to put it on record that the 'automatic ticket' idea in a democratic setting can only be guaranteed with the consent of the people. You can get automatic employments at the behest of the employee, not an automatic election without the support of majority of the people.
There cannot be Party supremacy without Party discipline. A situation, where individuals, who have refused to recognize the duly elected Party leadership at various levels in the State are rewarded with the Party's ticket without subjecting them to elections is unacceptable and I will never be convinced otherwise.
This stance is taken by myself and for myself, without consultation with either the Party Chairman, any member of the Party executive in the State, the Government of Imo State or any of the candidates. I take full personal responsibility for the consequences of this stance and will not repent of it.
Regards,
Onwuasoanya FCC Jones
Owerri.
19th October, 2018.
Since then, there has been questions regarding who made it and who didn't make it from IMO State APC.
In a post shared this afternoon, Mr Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, the IMO State APC Publicity Secretary, took a personal swipe at the National Body of APC for substituting some candidates who actually won the primary election .
Read what he wrote below:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
MY PERSONAL STANCE ON PARTY PRIMARIES, NOMINATION AND SUBSTITUTION OF CANDIDATES IN IMO STATE
Democracy is that system of government whereby the choice of majority of the people is sacrosanct and the whims of the cabal is checked. Either as a political Party or as a nation, we cannot and should not condone a practice where some people are guaranteed the retention of a public office without regard to the wishes of the ordinary people. Political offices are not hereditary but they can be held for a very long period by the same person or political group as long as they are able to secure the confidence and support of the largest number of people. Periodic elections are indispensable to democracy and those who are afraid to participate in these elections are not worthy to hold public offices in democratic nations.
There are laid down Constitutional guidelines on the substitution of candidates who won Party primaries and unless these procedures are adhered to, especially on the VOLUNTARY withdrawal of the candidates who won the primaries, any substitution is illegal and a vent to political corruption.
As a political activist, sailor and prisoner of conscience, I shall not support any candidate who did not emerge through transparent internal Party elections to fly my Party's flag. As a Party official, I believe in the supremacy of the Party, but do not and shall not subscribe to the imposition of individual will on the majority of Party members. I am a vehement rebel against anything that brings our democracy to ridicule.
I wish to put it on record that the 'automatic ticket' idea in a democratic setting can only be guaranteed with the consent of the people. You can get automatic employments at the behest of the employee, not an automatic election without the support of majority of the people.
There cannot be Party supremacy without Party discipline. A situation, where individuals, who have refused to recognize the duly elected Party leadership at various levels in the State are rewarded with the Party's ticket without subjecting them to elections is unacceptable and I will never be convinced otherwise.
This stance is taken by myself and for myself, without consultation with either the Party Chairman, any member of the Party executive in the State, the Government of Imo State or any of the candidates. I take full personal responsibility for the consequences of this stance and will not repent of it.
Regards,
Onwuasoanya FCC Jones
Owerri.
19th October, 2018.
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