APC Adopts Direct Primaries For All Elective Offices

All Progressives Congress APC has said that direct elections
would be adopted for all its primaries.

Briefing journalists at the end of the NEC meeting Thursday in
Abuja, Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong had said when the
matter came up for discussion, most of the states opted to use
indirect primaries. Consequently, it was agreed that any state
wishing to adopt the direct method would have to write the national
leadership of the party for approval.

“The constitution of the party provides for either direct,
indirect or consensus but for the presidential election we all
agreed that we will adopt direct primaries for the presidential
election. Also a recommendation was made by the NWC that the other
states should adopt the indirect mode but there may be situations
that this might be difficult in the state looking at their
peculiarities. So if there are such difficulties, they can apply,
following the process”, Lalong had said.

“The constitution of the party provides for either direct,
indirect or consensus but for the presidential election we all
agreed that we will adopt direct primaries for the presidential
election.

On Friday morning, the party further reaffirmed the reports from
Thursday’s meeting of its National Executive Committee NEC which
said direct election would only be adopted for the presidential
primaries while states were at liberty to use either of direct or
indirect primaries with approval from its national leadership.

Yekini Nabena – APC Acting
Publicity Secretary

However, in an “updated” statement Friday evening, party
spokesman, Yekini Nabena said; “The 30th August, 2018 resolution of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee
(NEC) on the mode of Primary Election has been subject to
inferences and misleading interpretations.

“As an update to the earlier released statement, we wish to make
the following clarifications on NEC’s resolutions on Mode of
Primary Election: Primary elections into all elective offices shall
be by Direct Primaries; NEC resolved to adopt Direct Primaries for
the nomination of the Presidential candidate and all other
Primaries; The Party’s constitution though provides for Indirect
Election and Consensus, however, the use of Indirect Primaries is
conditional and dependent on logistic impediments; peculiarities
and need of a given State that makes it unable to use Direct
Primaries.

APC NEC MEETING 3. R-L; President
Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC National
Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole, APC National Leader Sen Ahmed Lawan

“The State Executive Committee (SEC) shall in consultation with
aspirants and other critical stakeholders of the Party in a given
State forward for the consideration and approval by the National
Working Committee (NWC), if Indirect Primaries is to be adopted.
The adopted mode shall now be applied to all categories of the
Party’s Primary Elections i.e. State Assembly, Senate, House of
Representatives and for the Governorship Elections.

“The request for Indirect Primaries must be signed by majority
of the State Executive Committee and critical stakeholders in
attendance at the meeting where such resolution is reached. “Direct
Primaries will among others ensure fairness; create a level playing
ground for contestants; eliminate corrupt tendencies usually
associated with the delegates system and ultimately ensure full
participation of party members at all levels”.

All Progressives Congress APC has said that direct elections
would be adopted for all its primaries.

Briefing journalists at the end of the NEC meeting Thursday in
Abuja, Plateau state Governor, Simon Lalong had said when the
matter came up for discussion, most of the states opted to use
indirect primaries. Consequently, it was agreed that any state
wishing to adopt the direct method would have to write the national
leadership of the party for approval.

“The constitution of the party provides for either direct,
indirect or consensus but for the presidential election we all
agreed that we will adopt direct primaries for the presidential
election. Also a recommendation was made by the NWC that the other
states should adopt the indirect mode but there may be situations
that this might be difficult in the state looking at their
peculiarities. So if there are such difficulties, they can apply,
following the process”, Lalong had said.

“The constitution of the party provides for either direct,
indirect or consensus but for the presidential election we all
agreed that we will adopt direct primaries for the presidential
election.

On Friday morning, the party further reaffirmed the reports from
Thursday’s meeting of its National Executive Committee NEC which
said direct election would only be adopted for the presidential
primaries while states were at liberty to use either of direct or
indirect primaries with approval from its national leadership.

Yekini Nabena – APC Acting
Publicity Secretary

However, in an “updated” statement Friday evening, party
spokesman, Yekini Nabena said; “The 30th August, 2018 resolution of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee
(NEC) on the mode of Primary Election has been subject to
inferences and misleading interpretations.

“As an update to the earlier released statement, we wish to make
the following clarifications on NEC’s resolutions on Mode of
Primary Election: Primary elections into all elective offices shall
be by Direct Primaries; NEC resolved to adopt Direct Primaries for
the nomination of the Presidential candidate and all other
Primaries; The Party’s constitution though provides for Indirect
Election and Consensus, however, the use of Indirect Primaries is
conditional and dependent on logistic impediments; peculiarities
and need of a given State that makes it unable to use Direct
Primaries.

APC NEC MEETING 3. R-L; President
Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC National
Chairman, Comrade Oshiomhole, APC National Leader Sen Ahmed Lawan

“The State Executive Committee (SEC) shall in consultation with
aspirants and other critical stakeholders of the Party in a given
State forward for the consideration and approval by the National
Working Committee (NWC), if Indirect Primaries is to be adopted.
The adopted mode shall now be applied to all categories of the
Party’s Primary Elections i.e. State Assembly, Senate, House of
Representatives and for the Governorship Elections.

“The request for Indirect Primaries must be signed by majority
of the State Executive Committee and critical stakeholders in
attendance at the meeting where such resolution is reached. “Direct
Primaries will among others ensure fairness; create a level playing
ground for contestants; eliminate corrupt tendencies usually
associated with the delegates system and ultimately ensure full
participation of party members at all levels”.