Ekiti APC Primary: Group insists Direct primary only safe option

In spite of the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) in conjunction with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West and representatives of the 33 governorship aspirants in Ekiti State, to use indirect primary in picking its governorship candidate in the rescheduled primary set for Friday, May 11, a cross section of members of the party from the three senatorial districts of the state have insisted that the only way to achieve a credible result at the primary was using direct primary in picking the flag bearer.

The group which calls itself Concerned APC Ekiti Chieftains, berated the primary organizing committee for what it described as the irregularities that preceded the exercise, lack of clear guidelines by the primary committee, the conflict of interest of its members, use of levers of violence and security agencies at the primary grounds and violation of secret ballot rules including evidence of primary delegates compromised by bribes, threats and intimidation.

The group in a release signed by 10 of its members also berated the National Working Committee (NWC) for “the incoherent response of the NWC of the party, which seem to be acting at cross purposes with the state executives who had their offices invaded by thugs as well as statements issued seemingly in coordination with one particular candidate to the detriment of others.

“We also note that one or two NWC members have since claimed no meetings to discuss Ekiti Post Primary has been held which further puts to test the claim of NWC’s impartiality and ability to constitute an even handed primary committee now and in the Future.”

The release was signed by Chief Segun Ajibulu – Ekiti North Senatorial District, Chief Odetola (Odelodu) – Ekiti North Senatorial, Chief Olu Oyewole Akewi – Ekiti North Senatorial, Ambassador M. Onipede – Ekiti South Senatorial District, Hon Femi Adeleye – Ekiti North Senatorial District, Engineer Bode Adetunji – Ekiti Central District, Chief Tope Omoshilade – Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Pastor Egbeyemi – Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Hon Funmilola Adeyemo – Ekiti Central Senatorial District and Chief (Mrs) Kehinde Olokeshusi – South Senatorial District.

The statement reads in part, “It is for this reason we commend the intervention of the Southwest Nigeria leaders on the instruction of Mr. President on the brewing crisis in Ekiti.

“We note the democratic fashion of SW Leaders’ intervention and the vote of Aspirants taken which allowed all in attendance to weigh in on the three options available: direct primaries, indirect primaries and consensus. Indeed, it was not surprising that direct primaries was selected as the preferred method by 17 of 24 Aspirants in attendance.

“Direct primaries indeed should be the preferred method for democratic leaning institutions like our party, for the following reasons:

a. The members of the party should have equal rights to express their will as to who should be the flag bearers of their party in the Ekiti Gubernatorial race. Direct primaries achieve this.

b. Delegate primary has been highly compromised as witnessed last Saturday and doing it again exposes the party to repeating the same mistake only at a grander level.

c. The NWC itself has shown bias and given that delegate primary is more susceptible to its manipulation especially since it is secret ballot of selected delegates and in selection of officials to administer the same. Direct primaries provide a counter balance to NWC biased influence.”

Other reasons why direct primary is preferable according to them include the fact that, “Direct primaries provides an easier and cheaper option since it will be on decentralized basis and it will be Option A4 with no ballot papers printed, just result sheets and minimal security.

“Candidates will be able to canvass more widely and less likely to have opportunities for circumventing the democratic process either with bribes.”

They therefore urge the party leadership to abide with the choice of the majority of the aspirants who prefer the direct primary option, “The demand of Ekiti is direct primary as evidenced by the way the Aspirants voted at the SW Leader Caucus Meeting.

Any other plan implemented will be unsafe and dangerous even for our party officials. We must be cautious. The situation is tense in Ekiti today and no security guarantees can be provided to any position that counters the position of our elders and the candidates that met them.

“We enjoin the NWC to do the right thing and tow the path of honour and respect Ekiti for the collective benefit of our party. They cannot love Ekiti better than Ekitians and their regional leaders.

“We plead for the voice of reason. We enjoin that our President and voices of our National Leader must be respected and not embarrassed. Let us make Ekiti State APC stronger not weaker,” they said.