By Deborah Coker
The Basil Ganagana Campaign Organisation says the rejection of Nicholas Mutu by Bomadi/Patani constituents in the recently-concluded APC House of Representatives primaries was not accidental.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) via a telephone interview on Thursday, the Chancellor of the organisation, Chris Anthony, described the rejection as a culmination of years of political fatigue within the federal constituency.
Anthony said that this was contrary to what he described misleading narratives, falsehood and propaganda being circulated on certain social media platforms.
He said that the ‘flood of falsehood, propaganda and misleading narratives’ followed the victory of Basil Ganagana in the APC House of Representatives primary election held in Bomadi/Patani federal constituency on Saturday.
Anthony noted that the outcome of the primary election should have marked the end of political speculations and the beginning of reconciliation and unity within the party.
”Unfortunately, some disgruntled supporters of Nicholas Mutu, unable to come to terms with the democratic verdict delivered by party members, have chosen the path of misinformation, blackmail and manufactured propaganda by falsely claiming that the election was manipulated.
”The reality is clear, verifiable and already widely acknowledged across the constituency and Delta political structure that Basil Ganagana won the primaries convincingly and overwhelmingly across the constituency.
”The rejection of Nicholas Mutu by party stakeholders was not accidental.
“It was the culmination of years of growing public dissatisfaction, political fatigue and the increasing demand for democratic renewal, leadership expansion and fair representation within Bomadi/Patani federal constituency.
”Indeed, Nicholas Mutu reportedly lost support across multiple wards, including his own Akugbene ward, a development that speaks volumes about the changing political mood within the constituency,’’ he stated.
The campaign organisation’s chancellor added that for nearly three decades, the people of the federal constituency had repeatedly expressed concerns over what they described as ineffective representation and limited visible federal presence.
”They had also expressed concerns about the absence of landmark legislative accomplishments and the failure to sufficiently address critical ecological and developmental challenges confronting the constituency.
”Particularly painful to many constituents was the continued environmental vulnerability affecting communities such as Akugbene, which has, for years, suffered severe coastal and environmental erosion in spite of the prolonged legislative stay and strategic committee influence associated with his position in the National Assembly.
”Over time, many citizens had increasingly come to the conclusion that the constituency deserved broader democratic participation, leadership transition and fresh representation capable of restoring political confidence and opening new developmental possibilities for the people,’’ he said.
Anthony also said that long before the primaries, the signs of political rejection had already become obvious and impossible to ignore.
”The series of protests witnessed across Patani, Bomadi, and even at the APC national secretariat in Abuja clearly demonstrated the growing public demand for change, fairness and political inclusion within the constituency.
”It is therefore unfortunate that certain online platforms and politically-aligned media outlets have continued to amplify misleading narratives regarding the outcome of the APC primaries.
”One such example is the publication circulated by Sahara Reporters on May 20 which echoed claims suggesting that Nicholas Mutu won the primary election in spite of the widely acknowledged outcome confirming the overwhelming victory of Basil Ganagana.
”Such reports stand in sharp contrast to the political realities within Bomadi/Patani federal constituency where stakeholders, party faithful and community leaders across the constituency clearly expressed their preference for democratic renewal, leadership expansion and a new direction for the constituency.
”No media narrative, however amplified, can alter the democratic verdict already delivered by the people and acknowledged by party leaders and stakeholders across Delta,’’ he said.
Anthony said that if Mutu’s ambition was truly rooted in serving the people rather than self-preservation, this moment was a historic opportunity to demonstrate statesmanship by respecting the Bomadi/Patani constituents’ choice of Ganagana, a former Speaker of Delta House of Assemby.
”It is important to emphasise that democracy requires not only the courage to contest elections, but also the maturity and honour to accept defeat when the people have spoken.
”At this moment, the most statesman-like and dignified path available to Nicholas Mutu is to accept the outcome of the primaries in good faith, congratulate Basil Ganagana and allow the constituency to move forward peacefully after nearly three decades of his representation.
”The people of Bomadi/Patani have already acknowledged and appreciated his years of service as well as repeatedly recognised his long political journey and contributions to public life.
”However, democracy must also create room for renewal, inclusion and leadership transition.
”The emergence of Ganagana is therefore not the product of manipulation, but the direct outcome of a strong and unmistakable democratic consensus by delegates and the people of the constituency who overwhelmingly demanded political expansion and a new direction.
”No amount of social media propaganda or sponsored misinformation can overturn the will of the people; the people have spoken; democracy has prevailed, and a new chapter has begun in Bomadi/Patani federal constituency,’’ Anthony added.
NAN