A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Adegboyega Adegoke, has declared that introduction of direct primaries would give Nigerians the power to elect their leaders without fear or favour.
Adegoke, who doubled as Bada Balogun of Ibadan land made this disclosure while participating in a political programme on an Ibadan-based radio, Solutions 93.9 FM, titled, “Politics In Focus” and monitored by DAILY POST on Monday.
Our correspondent recalls that Senate and the House of Representatives recently passed the harmonized version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The bill allowed direct primaries as a means of returning democracy to the people.
Adegoke while speaking said that the national assembly should be applauded for adopting direct primaries for political parties to pick their candidates for elections.
He said adopting indirect primaries by political parties in the country in the last 22 years of the present democratic dispensation has turned the governors to emperors who always want to impose their wish on members of their party.
He explained that direct primaries would make party members have sense of belonging.
Adegoke, while advising President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act, insisted that the time has come to adopt new method by the political parties as it would largely reduce the influence of money in our political space.
Adegoke said, “The mandatory direct primaries method is an opportunity for Nigerians to freely elect their leaders as it gives them the political power to override governors and god-fathers impunity of imposing candidates.
“It is very sad to discover that the governors are opposed to the window of freedom given by the National Assembly.
“This experience gives goose bumps because the governors do not want the people of Nigeria to be able to freely elect potential candidates in the political party through internal party democracy.’’
