Edo 2020: Why APC Must Adopt Tinubu’s Lagos Campaign Model – PGF Boss

The Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Salihu Moh Lukma, has called on the APC to adopt the Lagos State Campaign model of Bola Tinubu for Edo 2020 governorship election.

Naija News reports the APC Chieftain in a statement titled “Progressive Politics – Which Way APC?” in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Friday, where he added that for the APC, Governor Godwin Obaseki would have no claim to any achievement.

The APC chieftain argued whatever achievements recorded by Governor Obaseki were products of the enabling environment created by the party in the state, adding that for the desired results in Edo State, the APC should adopt Tinubu’s campaign model in Lagos State that has continued to positively market the party and any candidate presented for elections since 2007.

“Lagos State Governorship election since 2007 present a good model. Without any doubt, our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, may be argued to be very influential in the emergence of candidates, from Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, Mr Akinwumi Ambode to our current Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu. But once a candidate emerges, the responsibility of executing the campaign largely belong to the candidate on account of which the particular candidate become the face of the campaign.

“If our party want Edo people to vote for our candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu must be very visible and be seen as the face of the campaign,” he said.

The PGF Director-General also wants the ruling party to change campaign narratives stressing that but for the party, Obaseki would not have recorded any meaningful achievement.

According to him, “APC has ruled Edo State since the time of Comrade Oshiomhole as Governor of the state. Up to today, whatever achievement Edo State experienced under Governor Obaseki, between 2016 and now, APC must own it.

“Anything Governor Obaseki is able to achieve must be credited to APC as a party. Our Edo campaign should be able raise the awareness of Edo people that had Governor Obaseki been in PDP, it would have been impossible for him to record any achievement.”

The APC chieftain also called on the Governor Abudullahi Umar Ganduje led National Campaign Council for Edo election to assume leadership and take the necessary steps to redirect the Edo State APC campaign to have a clear progressive bearing.

Lukman said, “the committee should ensure that APC campaign messages appropriate all development achievements recorded under the APC administration of Governor Obaseki. In addition, we must take steps to also cut the oxygen supply to PDP campaign, which is presenting our party and our candidate as promoters of violence. Our campaign for the Edo election should therefore amplify messages of peace and what we need to do to achieve that.”