By DADA. AYOKHAI
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, has introduced a new approach to the presentation of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, nomination forms to the party’s candidates.
Recently, the chairman was seen presenting INEC nomination forms to National Assembly candidates who emerged from the party primaries across the state. The presentations were done in the comfort of the candidates’ offices or homes, in a manner likened to an award ceremony.
Political observers are questioning whether the approach is a public relations strategy or a move to spite aspirants who lost out during the primaries.
According to the observers, INEC nomination forms are administrative documents meant for candidates to provide their biodata before submission to the electoral umpire. The forms are subsequently displayed to the public for objections, if any, ahead of elections.
Party members who spoke on condition of anonymity said the method adopted by Tenebe is reopening wounds among aspirants who were unsuccessful in the primaries. They argued that the chairman should be seen uniting the party, not deepening divisions.
They further reminded the chairman that only one set of party primaries was held in the state, and it still ended in controversy, with some aspirants reportedly cajoled into stepping down for the emerged candidates.
According to them, the chairman should not present himself as a hero where he is not.
