By Okey Ndiribe

As the October 11  governorship by-election in Adamawa State draws nearer,  the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, called on the Federal Government  to lift the existing curfew in the state in order to create a level-playing field for all political parties that will participate in the electoral contest.

This call was made by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the party’s first National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting in Abuja.

The APC spokesman explained that the party was not calling for the lifting of the state of emergency in the state, but insisted that the existing curfew would hamper the freedom of movement of members and officials of the party if it remained in place during the period of campaigns for the governorship poll.

Said he: “For a free and fair election to take place in Adamawa, the curfew has to be lifted so that there would be a level playing field for all the parties participating in the contest.”

He stated that the party would commence  primaries for various political offices in October, adding that the party had also adopted the modified direct primaries for the exercise.

He explained that this method was adopted “because there are constraints to get over 20 million members of our party to queue for the primaries, but at the same time, we want it to involve the grassroots as much as possible.”

Commenting on the impeachment threat being currently faced by Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, Mohammed stated that since the panel that was set up by the state Chief Judge had absolved the governor of any wrong-doing, he could not be subjected to another trial over the same allegations.

“The Nasarawa House could only compile fresh allegations against the governor, if any,” he said.
Commenting on the conduct of the recently held Osun State governorship election, he hailed the remark of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, condemning the use of masked security operatives during the poll.

He disclosed that the NEC meeting also discussed the guidelines for the party’s  primaries, adding that forth-coming elections in Adamawa, Niger and Delta states were also discussed.
He stated that the party was worried about the neutrality of certain public officers over the forth-coming Adamawa gubernatorial polls.

Commenting on the recent exit of former EFCC Chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, from the party, he said it was a “manifestation of the beauty of democracy which emphasises the freedom of association.”

He however remarked that the APC had become such a strong brand that the defection of any member could not adversely affect the fortunes of the party anywhere in the country.

Responding to a reporter’s question on the activities of a large number of pro-Jonathan groups across the country, the APC spokesman stated that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was violating provisions of the Electoral Act by engaging pre-election campaign.