SIR: The news of Senate’s approval of direct primaries has continued to elicit mixed reactions across the country. Many Nigerians have described the bill as timely and welcome development. To them, it will check the excesses of governors who control and ensure only their boys get party tickets.
The amendment to some clauses of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) bill 2021 was passed on July 15. Under Clause 87, a political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under the bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Independent National Electorates Commission (INEC).
Since the restoration of democracy, political parties have been using indirect primaries to select their candidates. Through indirect primaries, only parties’ delegates and other executives are allowed to vote. Sometimes, the outcomes of the indirect primaries conducted by political parties are influenced or manipulated by top party officials. That was why, during primaries, there are usually, reported cases of financial inducement in exchange of votes. Besides, governors who control the parties’ structures usually give directives on the candidates the delegates should go for.
However, if the proposed bill for direct primaries becomes law, Nigerians will experience the opposite. While indirect primaries narrow the selection of candidates in the hands of few selected delegates, direct primaries will provide room for massive participation of youths and women in the selection of candidates. It takes only the membership card to participate and select candidate of one’s choice. Also, the incessant monetization of parties’ primaries as obtained in indirect primaries will be checkmated. The fear of some powerful governors imposing their candidates against the wishes of electorates will be stopped.
Despite the fact the country will benefit tremendously from direct primaries, some invisible hands are working hard to frustrate the passage of the bill. To these categories of people, direct primaries mean the end of their political dominance and maneuvering.
With voters’ apathy on increase, there is the need for more participation of the electorate not only in election but also parties’ primaries. The country’s political culture is rapidly changing with more Nigerians becoming enlightened. We cannot expect our decades of democracy to remain static while other countries’ are fast changing.
Of course, that is not to say that there are no problems associated with direct primaries, it nonetheless remains the best method for selection of candidates. Let our political parties try it.
- Ibrahim Mustapha,
Pambegua, Kaduna State.
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