Enugu APC caucus, aspirants, others endorse indirect primaries

Members of the caucus of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have endorsed the indirect primaries earlier adopted by the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party.

The body which is one of the highest decision making organ of the party in line with its constitution took the decision yesterday at the Nike Lake hotel, Enugu during her meeting with aspirants, leaders and other stakeholders of the party in the state.

In attendance were, immediate past governor of Enugu state, Barr. Sullivan Chime, ex- military Governor of Gombe state and House of Reps aspirant, Group Captain Joe Oji, new entrant, Senator Ayogu Eze, Director – General of Voice of Nigeria VON, Mr. Osita Okechukwu,

a member of APC board of trustee, General Josef Okoloagu, (Rtd), major financial of the party nationwide, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, former member of federal House representatives, KGB Oguakwa, business mogul, Everest Nnaji among others.

The SWC led by Dr. Ben Nwoye had few weeks ago adopted the indirect or consensus mode after its meeting at the party secretariat, a decision that was countered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Goeffery Onyeama, during a selected stakeholders meeting he convened in Enugu where they advocated for direct primaries.

Onyeama’s position generated mixed reactions as majority of the stakeholders aligned themselves with the SWC’s position, even as the state chairman, Dr. Nwoye insisted that the Minister do not have the constitutional power to convene such meeting, or take decision on any critical issue affecting the party on behalf of members.

Dr Nwoye, while briefing the caucus and aspirants on the guideline and preparations for the forthcoming primaries as well as reason why the SWC settled for indirect or consensus, described those against their decision as people who do not have the interest of the party at heart.

He explained that the direct primaries as being advocated by the Minister was capital intensive and cumbersome insisting that the state do not have the financial capacity to go for direct primaries, according to him, “It would gulp the party about 400 million naira to conduct direct primaries”.

Announcing the position of the caucus to newsmen after the meeting, chairman of the occasion and former Governor of old Anambra state, Dr. Jim Nwobodo represented by immediate past governor of Enugu state, Sullivan Chime said the explanation of the SWC was quite understandable and reasonable hence the need for the adoption.