The Acting Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, has said the party is determined to take back the governance of the state on November 12, 2024.

He said APC would do all within the purview of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; the Electoral Act, 2022; and the spirit and letter of APC’s Constitution, for its governorship candidate to win the September 21 election.

Tenebe assured the citizens of a level-playing field for the 12 screened and cleared governorship aspirants of APC, ahead of the February 17 primary election.

He spoke yesterday at Edo secretariat of APC on Airport Road, Benin, while addressing reporters.

He said: “Edo APC assures all the 12 governorship aspirants that a level-playing field shall be provided them, with a view to ensuring a rancour-free primary election, which shall lead to success in the September 21 election.

“The party wishes to re-emphasise that it has not and will not endorse any of the aspirants that has not been cleared by the committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC), neither has it given any of its organs, persons or groups to do so, on its behalf.

“Edo APC congratulates the 12 aspirants on their successful screening and wishes to express that the party, basking in the euphoria, has pillowed on the democratic tenets of unhindered and unencumbered participation of the 12 aspirants in the primaries, as the party has not endorsed any preferred aspirant, going into the primaries, fixed for February 17, 2024.”

The acting chairman of APC in Edo said between February 8 and 9 this year, the 12 governorship aspirants that purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms of the party were taken through the screening by the committee set up by the NWC of APC.

He said: “As a prelude to the primaries fixed for February 17, 2024, and in line with the timetable released by the national secretariat of APC, the party did the membership revalidation between February 10 and 11 2024.

“Today (yesterday), in continuation of APC’s desire to ensure actions that ultimately deepen internal democracy, deployed men and resources in the 18 local governments and conducted the ward delegates’ congress, as the delegates shall affirm the results of the direct primaries.”

Tenebe enjoined APC faithful in Edo to remain committed to the ideals of a unified, noble and big political family, signposted by the party (APC). (The Nation)