APC Governors’ Move To Scuttle Direct Primary Fails

By Ayodele Oni

A tension-soaked meeting was held in Abuja Tuesday night  to finally resolve the issue of the mode of conducting primaries by political parties.

The meeting was at the instance of the Presidency, following mounting opposition against direct primary.

Both  Chambers of the National Assembly had earlier passed a bill recommending direct primaries for political parties in picking candidates for election.

However, some members of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC), especially serving governors are said to be uncomfortable with the idea, making them to attempt to dissuade President Mohamadu Buhari from assenting to the bill.

Tuesday night’s meeting, comprising stakeholders in APC, was presided over by the vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and was held in Aso Villa.

A remark by an Aide to the President, Mr Babafemi Ojudu after the meeting stated that “The resolution tonight of tripartite meeting is victory for party internal democracy.

“Tension was high. Emotions predominated but the Vice President was able to play the role of a great conciliator.

‘While the younger elements in the House of Representatives were vehement and uncompromising in the expression of their preference, the Senators were calm but resolute.

“The VP laid out the reasons for calling the meeting and allowed the parties to ventilate

“It was a victory for the party, the governors and the legislators. We should commend the party leaders for reaching an agreement in a democratic manner.

“I think the outcome of today’s meeting is victory for internal democracy in APC. You recall that, in his sagely wisdom, President Muhammadu Buhari had set up a tripartite mechanism to interface whenever conflicts of this nature arose between the party, the body of governors and members of the National Assembly.

“Acting on the President’s mandate, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo called today’s meeting to allow for all parties to ventilate their voices in a no-holds-barred manner.

“It was a family meeting. At the end, a common ground was reached, direct primaries was upheld and aspirants under our party can now go back to the people and seek endorsement, rather than giving a few delegates the power to decide for all.”

The opposition People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in  a statement issued by spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, held that it is the inalienable right of each political party, “within the context of our constitutional democracy, to decide its form of internal democratic practices including the processes of nominating its candidates for elections at any level.

“The PDP believes that no political party should force its own processes on any other political party as the direct primaries amendment, a practice of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sought to achieve.”