 The All Progressive Congress in River State has ruled out the adoption of a sole candidate to fly the flag of the party in 2023's governorship elections in the state, noting that the party would get its candidate from a free and fair credible primary. This was as the party commenced moves to reconcile the agreed members to strengthen the APC to win elections come 2023. Joining us to discuss this further is former member of the State House of Assembly, Gordon Choma and former Ketecha committee chairman of the All Progressive Congress in River State, Isaac Abbott of Wobbola. Thank you very much gentlemen for joining us. Mr. Wobbola, I think you need to unmute yourself so we can hear you. Mr. Choma, can you hear me? I'm not muted at all. Okay, great. I can hear you, bro. All right, good. I'm going to start with you, Mr. Wobbola. I mean, Mr. Wobbola was quoted to say that there is a level of playing field, level playing field now for every single person in the party, whether they be in a faction or not. He said that it's open to every and anyone. Anybody who wants to be anything in the party can be whatever they want. What do you think he meant by this and what necessitated this move? Because we have known that there to be cracks in the party since 2019 and even before then. And here we are in 2022, it seems like there's some light at the end of the tunnel. So what necessitated this? Okay, thank you. Even though, I don't know your name, what's the name? Marianne. Okay, Marianne. Thank you. So APC is one in the whole country, Nigeria, the state and other chapters. The policy is one. Elections, our current primary related issues are just one. One policy, one everywhere. So the policy of APC, irrespective of what any other person has said, is that there is a level playing field for every member, every distant member of the party to contest whatever position that is. Possibly, if the zoning formula is what you're working with, zone to your side and all that. Even when it's not zone to your side, sometimes people still press it and try to contest for positions that are not zone to their side. The important thing is that every member of the party has a level playing to do and to contest for the position that the person is qualified to contest according to the constitution and the guidelines for any particular and specific context. Whether it's internal or external, whether it's general election or internal party structures, the chairmanship of the national tool, the works of the ESCO members. That's one point. I mean, Mr. Mekabeke also talked about fair credible primaries. But I want to ask the fact that he's talking about this idea now or has come to say that, look, we want to bring everybody to the table. Have all the factions and the cracks, I mean, I know you're being diplomatic saying the APC is one. Nobody's saying the APC is two. But then we have seen the APC lose elections because of the divisions within the party in 2019. We've seen parallel primaries happen, parallel congresses happen in your state. And now he's saying that there's going to be free fair primaries. So I'm asking, have all the cracks in the party been sealed? Have all the warring factions or the disagreeing factions been brought to the table to have a conversation? So what would that be? Can you hear me? I'm not spokesperson. Yes. Can you hear me? Yes. I'm certainly not talking for Mr. Mekabeke, the current chairman of the state party chairman of the party in the state. I'm certainly not spokesperson for him. But if I go by the general principles of the policy of it, then I can tell you that there will be level playing field for every member of the party. And that's the policy that I inherited. And that's the policy that I've left behind. And I'm sure that is continuously and continually the policy of the party level playing field, irrespective of who you are. Right? The party member will have a level playing field for any contest at all that parties involved. Unfortunately, I think I've lost Golden Chalma because I was going to ask him the question that I just asked you, but you still haven't answered me. You're being diplomatic. You are a member of the party. You have been in the ex-co-op of the party before. If there be any reconciliation moves, I'm sure you would be in the know and you would be able to boldly tell me that, yes, we are calling everybody to the table. This is what and what we've done. But you seem to be evading the question. I'm wondering why? No, no, Maria. You must get me to ask you questions in the context. I have left the position of party chairman. I was transiting at some point under the administrative chairman. And he's running the show independently. And at my time, yes, there were regulatory committees here and there, national, states, and other levels, you know? And that I can speak to. Today, they've chip-a-bacal, chip-a-bacal, they put it in Estomina to say that the person should be reconciled to the party and all of that. And that is what it is. What the chairman has told me is what it is. But when it comes to the issue of level play, if it is a policy of the party, and I'm saying that I stand by that policy and that is the policy of the party and what I left behind. It has not changed. Okay, interesting. I think we have... I cannot authentically respond to... I know that the chip-a-bacal, the state party chairman of the party or very busy in reverse bid has set up a few committees so far that are in the public space. I know of the finance committee. I know of the international committee, I suppose. Also, I know of two or three committees that are set up recently. Other than the pipeline. So, as they unfold and they are available in the public space, we will all see and know. All right. I have Golden Chalma joining me. So, let me throw the question to Mr. Chalma. Mr. Chalma, can you hear me? Great. I asked what will be like this same question. I'm going to ask you. Since Mr. Mekapake is saying that there is now a level playing field for all and everybody who wants to aspire for anything is allowed to. So, may the best man win. But I'm asking. I'm most interested in the reconciliation moves that he has made mention of. Now, I know that you have been on the other side of the divide while asking for a level playing field for fairness in the game. Have you had any handshake across the table? Have you been called in for conversations? Have you agreed on a way forward? We're not going to tell you, right? You're saying that I think that the kids said, the parties that have the best playing field for everybody. Yes. Is that what you're saying? Yes. Yes. That's very wrong. That doesn't go through. You cannot change that. It's not going to be the best for the foundation. The foundation is when the man use the house on the stand. The house cannot stand. And when you're put up very high, you cannot give the only price because you're put up of high-handedness. If you were staying, he doesn't have the power to call for a friend. They don't play with you and anybody. Nobody's playing with the bigger... But he's leading the party in the state. Isn't he leading the party in the state? Doesn't he have a right to say, well, if this party must move on, let's all meet each other halfway. Can't he do that? Whether he had a problem with anybody or not? Yes. I hope I'm hearing you rightly. He doesn't have the power to make such statements. This party is disunited because of the attitude and the motives of priority of the Minister for Transportation. Ezeca has no problem with anybody. Nobody has anyone with him. We have a problem with the Minister for Transportation whose motives is very faulty. If he decides to correct himself and come to the negotiating table, then everything will be okay. He doesn't lie in the mouth of Ezeca to call for that. Saying that you want the former Governor Chibikeh to come to the table with your faction of the party and that all will be... Well, I mean, whether Ezeca be case there or not, you're saying that your grouse is with the Honorable Minister of Transportation. Is that what it is? And if I may ask, what exactly did he do that has made your faction continuously disagree with what's happening in the party? Can you call the gays again? What exactly has the Transportation Minister done so bad that he has to be the one coming to stretch a hand of friendship before you can give a nod to the reconciliation moves that Ezeca be case talking about? What I'm saying is, it's not possible for him to make that call for what he wasn't quite for, because he doesn't have the powers to do that. What I'm saying is, we are... the Ezeca he sees correctly. If he sees anything, if he sees the confines of the faction he leads, as a united party, we need to be fair to ourselves how many problems the Ezeca was to ever. What he's saying is that the party has two factions. How to really concern the party and move along a united group. That is what he concerned everybody. But that's what Ezeca be case offering. Let's form a formidable force against the ruling party, which is the PDP. He cannot offer that. He's not between the confines and so too. So what must the minister of transportation do, sir? That would make you realize that there is... I don't want to make this a mess. As a guy, the party he leads. The faction he leads. How can the party be said be a united party in his mouth to do them or do them? No. He knows that. Go back to Mr. Bobola because I'm yet to really understand what's at the heart of this issue. Mr. Beke again had said that he'll engage the Magnus Abbey group and supporters of Senator Magnus Abbey and keep them within party activities. He said that he's going to do whatever it takes to address the issue. I'll ask the same question to Mr. Chama. Maybe this would soften the mood. But I'm asking, why did he take so long for Mr. Beke who's leading the party now? Or why didn't you do it when you were leading the party to call for the Magnus Abbey faction to the table and address the issue? Even though Golden Chama is saying that it's not within your purview to do that, that it's in the hands of the Honourable Minister for Transportation. Bob, maybe you can help me out here. Okay. Thank you, Miriam. I will tell you, it's on record that we, at the time, I was leading the party as chairman, as the city's chairman in the state, we had several levels of conversations from the national to regional to the states, even up to the local levels. We had several conversations from several meetings here. Golden Chama can organize several meetings in different places, some in Chifard and Gedi's House, some in other places, and he was in attendance at that time. But, as you keep mentioning Mr. Magnus Abbey, and I'm not sure he's still a member of the party because... Well, I have spoken to the Senate many times, even recently. He says nobody can remove him from the party, and he's still an APC member until he says it's different. You're getting your information, Esther. He's not being a member of the party. Miriam, you can't say where I'm getting my information from. I am just the immediate past chairman of the party, and his name is not in our register, so he don't tell me where I'm getting the information from. I was in custody of the registers of the party a few months ago. If he registered yesterday, if he provided membership yesterday, also I would not do better at the time of my visit. So, if the senator is not a member of your party, why is the leader of your party in the state right now saying that he wants to reconcile his faction? How does an outsider in your party have a faction? So, that's what I'm saying. First, I'm not a spokesman for the APC chairman today. I can only speak to what I knew before now. If it has changed, it has gone to prison, no problem. But, in any event, what the political party is there for is to bring in new members and continue to, even those who have left or those who are neither here nor there, is to make sure that they bring them to their foes, even go poaching and all of that. So, in discussing which the domagnos have paid and all those who are currently not members of the party, there's nothing wrong with that. They were previously members of the party, they were grieved at some point and we kept talking and all of that. They did not participate in activities that were fixed and set and carried out by the national party if there are members of the same party and all that, and we still call them members. Well, if they are registered, they are fine, but if if a maker is part of this program to bring their friends together, whether you're a member or not, it's okay. It's fine by me. I don't have a problem. You seem to not be okay with this idea. Do you have a personal grouse with the former senator? I don't know personal grouse because we've been talking like friends and colleagues and a lawyer like myself and all that. We've been talking over the period and we've been talking about. I kept encouraging him to participate in party activities that he refused with his people, some of the persons who are still following him and my job is to try to persuade people if you don't agree. So be it, but as I speak to you the fact remains a fact that the hems of affairs of the party and the state, I did not see his name. I'll throw the question to Mr. Chama. Mr. Chama, I'm sure you heard everything that what would I say? He's saying that the senator, Magnus Abbey is not a member of the APC. It's the best of his knowledge. Even though Emeka Beke is talking about the fact that he wants to reconcile with members of the faction about the senator. And he's also saying that he doesn't have a personal grouse with the senator. But I'd like to hear from you. Did Senator Magnus Abbey officially declare that he's no longer a member of the APC? Well, Mr. Oboboli is saying that to the best of his knowledge he does not know if Senator Magnus Abbey is still a member of the APC. That's very logical. The division is by the member of the APC and he's very resounding member of that. The issue here is simple. They have played a political resolution. He is a member of the party recognized by all of the country including them. Just the fact that they have been seen to be cowards. That's the only reason why by a friend of Oboboli who is making those decisions. I would have been happier if they got the key. Oboboli has gone. He's sent me out and he wants to turn it to his name. But for some reason he's not saying the truth. He knows that the thing is Mr. Abbey... But he says that he had access to... He said he had access to... I'm sorry Mr. Chalma. Hang on. Hang on Mr. Chalma. He said he did have access to the register of the party in the state. And the senator's name is not in the party's register in the state. This is what he said on live television. Yes. The party is aware when the national executive shows that as a ploy for the minister and his group to deny on top members of the APC of the national state who have seen members of the party the voice of the party that haven't been liberated and seen members that they could see by form and contest elections and everybody is aware of it. So that is not the issue. And the same national executive which they have seen to be appointed to submit Mr. Abbey and then to submit Mr. Akhi as members of the national committee of the party. Mr. Akhi was appointed a secretary of the Liga Committee while Mr. Akhi was appointed one of the south of the Liga Committee. So that kind of thing to be do. So what do you say if the party is of no value? Well unfortunately we were out of time I would have loved to ask where this is all going to lead because of course if the leader of the party in the state is saying let's come to the table and then we're still having divergence of opinions I do not know if the APC is ready for 2023 but I want to say thank you Mr. Isaac Bobola Golden Sharma, thank you all for being part of this conversation we appreciate it. Thank you Mr. McLean Well we'll take a short break now when we come back quickly I will give you my take here's my take now as we move towards the 2023 general elections I urge Nigerians to choose their leaders wisely in all the elections in order for us to put an end to this unending suffering that the average Nigerian has been subjected to over the years because the suffering being inflicted on Nigerians can only come to an end if the right set of leaders are elected so things are not working in the country we're all complaining and the mandate to bring the required change lies with us our economy is at its lowest there is serious insecurity in the country and this administration can no longer guarantee the security of lives and property in the country now we can't keep waiting on a savior or a messiah that will come and save us all we can't keep hoping that our political class will suddenly turn a new leaf and start prioritising us or our needs or our push for accountability and good governance or for open budgets and the protection of lives and property so as Democrats which I think we are I ask that all Nigerians get their PVCs if they are voting age avoid money politics it is a pertinent that we get it right this time in choosing our leaders because it is crucial it's a crucial period in the time of Nigerians lives because we cannot continue this way when choosing your leaders in 2023 as Petrotic Nigerians we must ensure that the people we vote into power are highly cerebral very educated, selfless and forthright we need a patriot who has the capability to govern we need Nigerian with the quality of a world class president because we deserve it he must be honest, he must be transparent he must be credible this is the kind of leader that you should vote for so don't sell your vote well that's the size of our show tonight I want to leave you with the fact that Nigerians are talking about the Third Force and if they will be able to un-sit the APC or the PDP I am Mary Anacol, thank you for watching I hope you can conquer APC or PDP in this Nigeria this century I didn't know maybe in the future but now to like 10 years to this time it can't be because APC and PDP like I didn't know what really happened but people like our mentality people for APC and PDP they are the only person that can do it but let's just try to another party maybe we can see the difference in this country the issue is that before the Third Force takes up that job takes out APC and PDP it would have been maybe for next coming election but not for now because for me they are not prepared yet you understand so before you think they have built a structure APC and PDP is taking over because they have already established a structure all over the countries and even at the local levels the grassroots structure is very important I don't think so since they are the ruling party and you know Nigeria now before you can kick away a ruling party it's always a very serious something except if they bring I would like to say it's a good candidate from other parties they can have chance but assistance now I don't think it is possible if we can play one and be united and know the plan and the vision of this third party then we will fight and make it possible I didn't think any third party can conquer APC or PDP in this Nigeria I didn't know maybe in the future but