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‘Internal party discipline, not defectors wins elections’

By Leo Sobechi
16 February 2017   |   3:03 am
Against the backdrop of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the South East, it has been argued that more is needed to win elections.

PHOTO: Reuters

Against the backdrop of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in the South East, it has been argued that more is needed to win elections.

In particular, it is contended that party’s internal discipline and adherents to the provisions of its constitution largely contribute to successful outings in elections.

According to an erstwhile chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Chike Obidigbo, internal party discipline rather than the caliber of defectors is responsible for the gathering momentum in Anambra State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obidigbo who made the assertion after re-registering his membership of APC at Umunya in Oyi local council of the state, noted that the impunity, rascality and exclusion that characterized party politics in the State are responsible for the mass movement into APC in the state.

He maintained that the institutional pillars of internal discipline, leadership focus and all-inclusiveness within APC are what a political party needs to make the difference in the lives of the people.

He explained that the realization that APC offers a better alternative platform compelled him and members of Osisioma Foundation from across the state to join the party, stressing that it is on record that he was the only politician that crossed over to APC with an organised body of grassroots membership in the state.

“For us in Osisioma Foundation, we are guided by the belief that socio-political ideas must touch lives. So we discovered that APC, as a focused platform, shares similar orientation to ours. As more and more people running away from impunity and all forms of rascality have decided to join APC, we believe that discipline and respect for constituted authorities would make the party strong in the state,” he declared.

He added that the membership registration exercise which was caused by the crashed data in South East has turned a golden opportunity for old and new members to come together as friends and brothers committed to good governance and progressive party politics.

His words: “All the political parties that have governed Anambra State have demonstrated imperfection and excesses, which in most cases led to factions and protracted legal disputes. APC has therefore become a promising platform that upholds discipline through well-structured leadership.

“The orderliness of the registration process is a good omen and a sign of new dawn in party politics in Anambra State. For the first time, no godfather has withdrawn to the comfort of his home to write names of imaginary members and become a kind of sole proprietor.”

On the forthcoming governorship election in the state, Dr. Obidigbo noted that the improvement in the electoral system, as well as, the enlightenment of voters would make the difference, adding that politicians should always remember that public office is by grace of God and not by human calculations, power and might.

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