APC approves direct primaries for Lagos, Zamfara, Imo, others ...indirect primaries for Adamawa, Rivers, Kaduna, Borno

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday approved different modes of primaries for its state chapters.

A statement yesterday by the APC acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena showed that the resolutions by the party’s NWC directed 18 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to use direct primaries.

The states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kano, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Taraba, and Zamfara.

The 19 states where indirect primaries would hold include Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, and Yobe.

The party has slated Saturday, September 29 for its governorship primaries; October 2 for Senate, October 3 for House of Reps and October 4 for state assemblies.

Daily Trust reports that the development had altered calculations in many states including where the state chapters of the party had agreed on either consensus arrangement or indirect primaries while very few originally opted for direct primaries.

The governorship primaries would hold in 29 of the 36 states of the federation. There would be no gubernatorial elections in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, Kogi, Ekiti and Osun states.

Meanwhile, the NWC has banned the Adamawa State Working Committee (SWC) from participating either as delegates or superintendents over the governorship primaries holding in the state.

The statement said the decision was taken due to the fact that the officials had taken side in favour of a governorship aspirant.

Daily Trust reports that the decision by the APC headquarters to give two different instructions for different states was reached by party organs after reviewing “tonnes of complaints” from different quarters.

There was widespread disaffection in many states where some chieftains of the party felt short-changed especially by APC governors.

Specifically, many of the chieftains felt they would be edged out in the event indirect primaries was adopted considering that the governors had allegedly cornered delegates from ward to state levels during the congresses held in May.

A top source at the APC headquarters told the Daily Trust last night that many factors were put into consideration before giving some states the go ahead with indirect primaries and others direct primaries.

“When you look at the statement, you will see that some states that initially wanted direct primaries or consensus have been asked to go for the indirect options while some who wanted indirect options have been asked to go for direct primaries,” he said.

The source said status quo was maintained in some states. “This is especially from where there were no genuine complaints from members that felt aggrieved. We did a thorough job and treated petitions strictly based on their merits not necessarily to favour the governor or somebody,” he said.

Another source said the latest decision was in order to avert litigations as some aspirants in many states had already gone to court over the last congresses while others were gearing up to go soon after the primaries, a development that may affect the party’s chances in 2019.

A look at the new template released by the APC showed that some states that earlier agreed on indirect primaries but directed to go for direct primaries include Bauchi, Cross River, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Ogun and Taraba. Zamfara had earlier chose consensus/ indirect primaries but would now go for direct primaries.

Daily Trust reports that after the 6th APC regular NEC meeting, it was resolved that the presidential election shall be conducted on the basis of ‘Direct Primary’ after which the winner would be ratified at a national convention.

The NEC, however, gave a caveat for the conduct of indirect primaries in states.

The resolution, dated September 4, 2018, was signed by the National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the National Secretary, Maimala Buni, and was sent to the party’s chairmen in the 36 states and the FCT.

It resolved that “For the purpose of the other elections (governorship, national and state assembly), the NEC while noting the applicability of each of the options, recognized that, there could be huge logistic challenges, local peculiarities and other operational challenges in each of the states which would make direct primaries not feasible.

“In such cases, the State Executive Committee and the Critical Stakeholders in a given state shall meet and by a resolutions signed by a majority of the State Executive Committee convey the National Working Committee the request for the Indirect Primaries upon which the NWC shall meet and approve same.”

Our correspondents report that after the directive by the APC NEC, many states opted for indirect primaries, an option kicked against by other party stalwarts.

In Bauchi, though some stakeholders of the APC recently met at Government House and endorsed the incumbent governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar for a second term and adopted indirect voting system for the conduct of the party’s primaries, other stakeholders had kicked against the move and also lodged a complaint.

Former Police Affairs Minister, Dr. Yakubu Ibrahim Lame and Captain Bala Jibrin, who are both governorship aspirants of the party, have jointly said adopting indirect option was done in bad faith and as a way to pave for the incumbent to emerge victorious in 2019 election.

In Ondo for instance, a former deputy governor the state, Alhaji Ali Olanisi and representatives of other groups had distanced themselves from the adoption of indirect primaries for all elections in the state.

Earlier, a group led by the senator representing Ondo North senatorial district of the state, Prof Ajayi Borrofice, had kicked against the adoption of indirect primary, saying those who wanted it were in the minority.

In Imo, a coalition within the party had kicked against the indirect primary and wrote the APC leadership in Abuja calling primaries’ model.

Members of the group, including the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Toe Ekechi, Hillary Eke, among others, noted that they will be short-changed in the indirect primary mode.

But a source with knowledge of happenings in the APC said despite efforts by the national hierarchy to reduce contentious issues through the latest decision, “it left a time bomb in some states where it approved indirect primaries despite genuine objections.”

He cited examples of Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Rivers and Zamfara where some members had raised concern.

In Kaduna, Senator Shehu Sani and others had complained that they would not get justice in the event candidates were selected through indirect primaries. “Direct primaries will end politics of godfatherism, it will end moneybags politics and will also end corruption in politics,” he said.

In Zamfara, the likes of Senator Kabiru Marafa had also kicked against indirect primaries or consensus arrangement, a development that prompted them to form what they called ‘Group 7’ with a view to checkmating a decision taken by Governor Abdul’aziz Yari on his preferred successor.

The objection to indirect primaries is also evident in Rivers State where it was alleged that the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi would have his way against the likes of Magnus Abe. for direct