Electoral Act: Direct primaries won’t end imposition of candidates – SPN tells Buhari, NASS

The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has said that direct primaries are not a panacea to solve the problem of the imposition of candidates among political parties in the country.

The party made this disclosure via a statement made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday through Abiodun Bamigboye, acting National Chairperson, and Chinedu Bosah, National Secretary.

DAILY POST recalls that the National Assembly had earlier passed the electoral amendment bill into law. The electoral amendment bill passed into law by the lawmakers approved direct primaries for political parties across the country.

The law also makes provisions for the electronic transmission of results. The lawmakers explained that direct primaries would curb the menace of imposition of candidates in political parties.

President Muhammadu Buhari has, however, refused to sign the law.

Buhari rejected the bill purportedly because it removes the provision for indirect primaries.

SPN in its reaction explained that the different positions held by the president and National Assembly on direct primaries are driven by their self-serving, short-term interest and not the quest to strengthen democracy as they both claim.

The party maintained that members of the National Assembly want to make direct primary mandatory because they believe it would make it easy for them to get the return tickets.

It argued that Buhari is out to protect the interest of state governors who consider it easier through indirect primaries to impose candidates or secure tickets for reelection or senatorial seats.

SPN further said that direct primaries is not a panacea for the problem of the imposition of candidates by governors and godfathers as the experiences of what obtains in both APC and PDP have shown.

The party while speaking further, said that it welcomed the introduction of the provision for the electronic transmission of election results.

“We see the controversy over the amendment bill as a reflection of infighting between two different sections of the same thieving elite.

“The different positions held by the president and National Assembly on direct primaries are driven by their self-serving, short-term interest and not the quest to strengthen democracy as they both claim.

“The fact is that the members of the National Assembly want to make direct primary mandatory because they believe it would make it easy for them to get the return tickets. On his part, President Buhari is out to protect the interest of state governors who consider it easier through indirect primaries to impose candidates or secure tickets for reelection or senatorial seats, which have become the playing ground of the former governors.

“We hold that direct primaries is not a panacea for the problem of the imposition of candidates by governors and godfathers as the experiences of what obtains in both APC and PDP have shown,” it said.

“Besides, it is illogical to think that the thieving politicians in both APC and PDP, for instance, who buy votes and perpetuate mass riggings in the general elections, cannot do the same in the primary elections, either it is through the direct or indirect arrangement. For instance, a recent judgment by the Federal High Court held that the direct primary election of APC in Anambra was rigged in favour of Andy Uba to emerge as the party candidate for the last gubernatorial election in the state.

“We welcome the introduction of the provision for the electronic transmission of election results”.

National dialogue will end agitations in Nigeria – Gov Ortom