The Nasarawa State chapter of the Accord Party, loyal to the Chris Imumolen faction, has denied the conduct of the party’s presidential affirmation primary in the state.
The chapter described reports claiming that the exercise was held and produced 47,309 votes for a presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, as false.
The party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Oshi Ebegye, stated this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
Ebegye said that no affirmation primary was conducted in Nasarawa State and, therefore, no valid result could have emerged from such an exercise.
“To the best of my knowledge, and as a confirmed state officer of the party, no affirmation primary was conducted in Nasarawa State. “Therefore, the claim that such a process took place and produced 47,309 votes is completely unfounded,” he said.
He questioned the authenticity of the reported figures, noting that the party’s membership strength in Nasarawa State was less than 4,000.
According to him, the reported vote tally is inconsistent with the party’s membership records in the state.
Ebegye also alleged that several states did not participate in the purported affirmation exercise.
He listed the states as Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo and Lagos, as well as the Federal Capital Territory. “There was no coordinated, verifiable or officially recognised affirmation process conducted in these states.
“The figures being attributed to them are misleading, unverified and completely detached from any legitimate party structure or activity on the ground,” he said.
The publicity secretary further alleged that Olawepo-Hashim did not meet the constitutional requirements to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate. He urged party members, stakeholders and the public to disregard the reported results.
According to him, the Accord Party remains committed to internal democracy, transparency and due process, and will only recognise exercises conducted in line with its constitution.
