A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Patrick Okomiso, has given his support for the direct primaries for political parties.
Okomiso, a former governorship candidate in Cross River State, believes it would entrench internal democracy in political parties and also advance democracy in the country.
He told The Nation in Abuja that the indirect primaries which have been mostly used since the return of democracy in 1999 has not done very well for democracy, hence there is nothing wrong in adopting direct primaries, which would bring the electoral process closer to the people.
He also said indirect primaries, over the years, have given rise to a situation where people who are supposed to be elected are not, while those that deserve to be elected are left outside.
According to him Nigeria was the only democracy in the world that relied on delegates election and should not be so.
Read Also: Direct primaries and the 2023 chess game
He also urged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct local government elections to entrench democracy at the grassroots.
“When INEC starts conducting these elections we would see that local government chairman and councillors that would emerge would be the ones the people want.
“If we allow INEC to organize local government elections we will be heading for the promised land. There is no party that wins all the local governments. No party can win all the seats of a local government,” he said.
He said because of indirect primaries, governors have hijacked the process to their benefit but direct primaries would ensure wider participation and more accurately reflect the wishes of the people.
“You know why governors leave the governorship to the Senate, it is because of indirect primaries. If there are direct primaries, if you don’t perform well you would not win. That is why they are afraid.It is the governors that are afraid. The destruction of our democracy is by the governors. All over the world there is nothing like a delegate election. It is only in Nigeria.
“indirect primaries have not given us clear cut internal democracy for 20 years. Those condemning direct primaries should give it a chance. We have tasted one since 1999 and it has not worked out for us. Why not try the other and see how it would work out,” he said.
Leave a Reply