Lagos: The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has reaffirmed its support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in strengthening democratic governance. APGA National Chairman, Mr. Sly Ezeokenwa, articulated this stance during an interactive session with newsmen, highlighting the party’s commitment to national interest and political stability.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ezeokenwa stressed that APGA’s alignment with the APC-led Federal Government is driven by a desire for political stability and development. He noted that the party remains committed to advocating for electoral reforms, internal democracy, and constructive political cooperation. The chairman emphasized the importance of credible elections, transparent political processes, and grassroots participation as essential components for national development.
Ezeokenwa reiterated that APGA’s support for the Tinubu administration stems from a belief in the necessity of cooperation among political actors to stabilize the country and advance development. He advocated for constructive engagement rather than antagonistic politics, stating that engagement with the central government serves national development. Despite aligning with the Tinubu administration, Ezeokenwa affirmed that APGA maintains its identity and vision as a distinct political party.
Further, Ezeokenwa praised the reforms introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), clarifying misconceptions about electronic transmission and collation of election results under the current legal framework. He highlighted the need for clear amendments to establish electronic collation and emphasized the importance of the Collation Support and Result Verification System in ensuring accuracy during elections.
Describing the 2023 general elections as the best in Nigeria’s history, Ezeokenwa attributed the success to innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). He noted that electronic accreditation became compulsory, strengthening the integrity of the voting process and ensuring that results exceeding the number of accredited voters were canceled in accordance with the law.
Ezeokenwa also defended direct primaries, arguing that they would strengthen internal democracy by reducing the influence of money in candidate selection. He highlighted APGA’s long-standing advocacy for inclusive nomination processes and criticized the delegate system for enabling financial influence. Ezeokenwa argued that direct primaries would compel aspirants to engage grassroots members and foster accountability.
In conclusion, Ezeokenwa emphasized that wider participation in primaries would strengthen political parties and encourage accountability among aspirants, as grassroots members become more involved in decision-making processes.