2023: APC Gives All Aspirants Nine Conditions They Must Fulfil (Full List)

Ahead of the primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the party has given aspirants interested in the party’s ticket some conditions they must abide by.

The conditions affect presidential aspirants as well as those seeking the party’s ticket for other elective positions including governorship, National Assembly and State assemblies, Naija News understands.

The conditions are contained in the nomination forms given by the APC to the aspirants after paying huge sums of money to obtain the form.

Part of the conditions include that the aspirants are not expected to take the party to court without first exhausting all avenues for internal redress in case of any grievance that may arise from the conduct of the party primaries.

They are also expected to fall in line and support whoever emerges as the party’s choice for various elective positions for the 2023 general election.

The APC also expects all aspirants to commit to an oath not to involve themselves in functionalization or anti-party activities and to keep their fans, followers and supporters in check as well.

In all, the party gave nine stringent conditions for the aspirants to abide by. They are:

“Abide to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the APC and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Abide by the Primary election guidelines of APC and Nigerian Electoral Act.

“Abide to place APC above selfish interests,

“I, my primary campaign organisation and my supporters undertake to accept the outcome of the primary and support whoever emerges as APC candidate for the general election.

“Abide not to engage in dishonest practices, thuggery, being absent from meetings to which he/she is invited without reasonable cause; carrying out anti-party activities which tend to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient organisation of the party or which are inconsistent with the aims and objectives of the party.

“Abide not to give wrong information to any organ of the party or unauthorised publicity of a party dispute without exhausting all avenues or settlement or redress within the party.

“Abide not to file any action in a court of law against the party or any of its officers on any matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the party without first exhausting all avenues for redress provided.

“Abide to always follow the path of justice, honesty and unity amongst fellow contestants and party members. So help me God.

“Abide not to factionalise or create a parallel congress, election, or party organ at any level.”

However, it is understood that the aspirants are having a major challenge with the condition of ‘voluntary withdrawal’ as many fear it may be a ploy that will guarantee any candidate can be forced upon other aspirants by the party.

They see the clause as undemocratic and have been engaging their lawyer for legal enlightenment, a member on the team of one of the presidential aspirants told The Nation.

The letter, titled: Letter of Voluntary Withdrawal, says: “I…of the above address…vying for…hereby voluntarily withdraw my candidacy from the contest…scheduled to hold on…2023. My withdrawal is in the best interest of our great party, the APC.”

Each aspirant is expected to fill and endorse the letter before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public and submit same to the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu as part of the conditions to participate in the party primaries.

The letter of withdrawal is a major reason most of the aspirants have refused to submit their forms yet as they are still consulting on the implications of such.

The aspirants have up to May 11 to submit the form, Naija News reports.