By Akinwale Kasali
The Nigerian Human Rights Community, NHRC, says the recent All Progressives Congress, (APC), Governorship Primary in Ekiti State has proved that Direct Primary remains the best option for party internal democracy in Nigeria.
The Group which monitored the the Primary said that there could be different options like Indirect and Consensus candidate, but Direct Primary offers the greatest opportunity for political inclusion.
NHRC is a coalition of several Civil Society Groups established over two decades ago which monitored the APC primary held on Thursday January 27. It said the exercise was not without challenges but that the poll proved that direct participation of members of political parties in chosing the party’s aspirants remains the best option for Nigeria.
In its preliminary reports, the NHRC said the primary was not without minor hitches but that it represented the wishes and aspirations of majority of members of APC in Ekiti State.
The group advised Nigerians to disregard reports being released by people who did not witness or monitor the Primary, those guided by stereotyping, wild assumptions and Aspirants who saw the Primary as a ‘must win’ venture.
The NHRC was the only Civil Society Group that monitored the APC primary election in Ekiti State.
The coalition said it had earlier written to the major stakeholders of the party indicating its intention to monitor the Primary Election, adding that the NHRC is in possession of audio and visual evidence in several Polling Units, Wards and Communities in order to produce verifiable account of the Primary.
It added that the outcome of the Primary was being celebrated across the State in rural and urban communities by the young, the old, men and women alike indicating an expression of a popular choice.
“We saw people’s enthusiasm, confidence and trust in democracy. Even in the face of prevailing challenges, people feel honoured and excited that they were involved in chosing who would represent their political party at the poll. This feeling of excitement strengthens the prospect of greater inclusion and public participation in party internal democracy”.
NHRC said it will be unfair to undermine this unique signpost associated with the Direct Primary in Ekiti State.
The NHRC said in a statement signed by its officials, Fred Ojinika and Odebunmi Ajayi that the best way to prevent rigging was to use Direct Primary since Nigerian politicians protesting the outcome of every election has become a ritual.
The Group which deployed 350 monitors spread across the 177 wards and polling units said its observations and recommendations will be forwarded to the National Assembly and all the registered political parties in the country.
NHRC said in its preliminary reports that Direct Primary has many advantages over other methods that have been proposed adding that this has been proved again by the results of the Ekiti Primary.
“There is no perfect system anywhere. The Ekiti Primary demonstrated inclusion and expresses the potential and powers possessed by the electorates and their ability to make tremendous input into the process that produced the aspirant of the party they belong.
On security, the group said generally the election was peaceful and well coordinated without any loss of lives, inflicting of injury on any voter, or the employment of any armed group by all the stakeholders.
The NHRC said many voters interviewed were of the opinion that knowing the tempestuous nature of the terrain and the fiercely democratic credentials of Ekiti people, found in their long lasting history, if the outcome of the primary had been against public expectation, there would have been massive protests in some parts, or across the entire State.
It commended all the Aspirants for their show of concern for peaceful public participation in the process of chosing the leader of the party at the June gubernatorial election.
NHRC said it regretted that it could not monitor the primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) due to the indirect nature of the primary which was conducted in a close circuit.
The NHRC said the APC Primary process was without intimidation, harassment or visible threats to the voters or the aspirants.
“The Returning Officers were punctual in all the polling units, accreditation was conducted largely without violence, party membership or voters cards were used by the party members and there were no visible indication that voters were prompted by financial gains.
The coalition said the emergence of Oyebanji of APC and Kolawole Olabisi of the PDP was an indication that Ekiti people are not divided along primordial lines since the two candidates, until 1996, were from the same Local Government and are from neighboring towns.
The NHRC, however, said there were reports that all the Aspirants gave money to each Ward said to be for mobilisation of voters before the election.
The Group said on the day of the election, there were attempts by unidentified sources trying to use the social media to spread misinformation during the voting process adding that the impact of the negative news and false claims of postponement did not influence the attitude of voters and the outcome of the primary.
The NHRC said the reports of some of the candidates’ withdrawal from the race while voting was on-going were unnfortunate adding that the attitude was like a football team withdrawing at half time only to blame the linesmen, the referee and other officiating officers for the outcome of the game.
“It is our considered opinion that the candidates should have raised objections earlier but not when the voting was already at its peak.
“It would have been worst if the primary had been by consensus or through indirect primary. Given the controversy associated with the build up to the primary election, direct primary appears to be the only means that could assuage what appeared to be preconceived prejudices within the political space.
On grey areas, NHRC said there was no voting in Ward B in Iyin Ekiti. It said in some Wards, coordinators of some of the aspirants decamped from their Principal to join Mr Abiodun Oyebanji on the day of voting while in many Wards, some aspirants had no representatives to carry their banner for voters to identify with them.
The Group also said some of the aspirants had no manifesto but relied on massive posters without critical reflection on their economic and social programmes that could make a impact the lives of the people.
NHRC also said the process remains devoid of youth participation adding that almost all the aspirants are above 50 indicating minimal youth participation in the process. It also raised the issue of gender adding that there was zero women participation in the entire process which is not good for Democratic development.
It urged youths and women to change the narratives by developing the zeal to participate fully in future elections.
It also added that in some polling booths, the line up was too long indicating that Ekiti State needs more polling units, a situation that should be addressed by INEC.
The NHRC said it will produce a comprehensive report to be distribute to political parties and the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) with the hope that the recommendations will be useful in Nigeria’s search for sustainable development.
