Direct Primaries: APC, PDP Governors Close Ranks To Prevail On Buhari Not To Sign Amendment Into Law

The fight over new provisions into the Electoral Act that would compel political parties to adopt direct primaries in conducting their primary election has taken a new twist as both the PDP and APC governors have found commonality of interest to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign it into law.

THE WHISTLER learnt on Sunday that governors in both parties have agreed that all must be done to scuttle the new amendment from being signed into law.

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It’s believed the amendment favours people like APC National Leader, Mr Bola Tinubu, and Former Vice President, Mr Atiku Abubakar who are capable of tilting any primary election in their parties.

It was gathered that politicians like former Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Abubakar, just like Tinubu, favour direct primaries, and the former is said to have spoken to the new PDP National Chairman, Mr Iyorchia Ayu, to allow what he called the will of the people to prevail.

But governors like Mr Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State both of the PDP, and the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi of the APC are opposed to Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Nasarawa State counterpart, Abdullahi Sule, Kaduna State governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai and Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu who all want direct primaries.

The pro-direct primaries of the APC governors are being accused of watering the ground for manipulation by Tinubu.

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THe WHISTLER learnt that Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, is opposed to direct primaries as well because he has interest to vie for the APC Presidential Ticket.

The vehemence of the opposition is informed by thier belief that the lawmakers should not dabble into dicey political terrain just because they lack the political clout to mobilise and win, they should not therefore impose their selfish will on the people.

But the chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the APC, Mr Mai Mala Buni, a political ally of Tinubu, is trying to placate other members of the APC highfliers including the governor’s to allow the president sign it into law.

It is understood he told his fellow governors that the provision would deepen democracy and would ensure trust between the government and the governed.

A source said he planned to meet with the president to brief him on the development to ensure he does not pander to the whim of his colleagues calling it overbearing attitude of greedy few men.

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He was quoted as saying those opposing the direct primaries were those who possessed the financial war chest but have no political clout to engage in direct primaries unless they spend heavily in an indirect form to tilt the contest in their balance.

Already, some senators, who have been accused of being arrowheads such as Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, a member of the APC, Oyo North said, there was no way except direct primaries.

He said, “We have to promote internal democracy to help our democracy grow, anybody that is against direct primary is not a democrat, we should allow the grassroots to participate in choosing who leads them like it is done in advanced democracies.”

His PDP counterpart, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan, PDP, Akwa- Ibom North East said, “Democracy is participatory and about the people . Our democracy is fashioned towards the United States of America. So, since this is the position of National Assembly, I have no choice, but to support it.”

Defending the position of the lawmakers, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, PDP, Enugu North, also said, “It is the majority view of the members of the National Assembly aimed at deepening and entrenching democracy in Nigeria,and never meant to hurt anyone.”

It was gathered on Sunday that the position of the lawmakers did not matter, that the governors would mobilise resources to apply pressure to ensure the president does not sign it.

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Already, the governors opposed to the new provision are said to have watered the ground in the presidency so that they can easily mobilise to influence the President to reject the amendment.

One way they intend to achieve this, THE WHISTLER learnt, will be to allow the transmitted amendment to be on the table of the president as the lawmakers will not have the guts to overrule the president by a 2/3 majority to make it a law.

Kebbi State governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Mr Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, is leading the charge for the anti-amendment in APC as he occupies a strategic position.

He rejected the proposal saying “Our ward congresses were results of direct primaries. The process involves multiple roles by INEC. If we have to involve INEC, their resources will be overstretched”.

His position is supported by Kogi state governor, Mr Yahaya Bello. Bello fumed at the proposal saying the transmission of the amendment would be returned to the National Assembly, pointing out that it won’t be the first time such was done.

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