Osun: Tinubu commends Oshiomhole, says direct primaries will deepen internal democracy

Former Lagos governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that the decision of the party’s National Working Committee approving a direct primary for electing its governorship candidate in Osun State will deepen internal democracy in the party.

Reacting to the decision of the party’s NWC to pick the governorship candidate of the party through direct primaries Tinubu said, “When the history of this moment is written, those looking back on this decision will say that it was an inevitable natural consequence of party evolution.”

The APC Constitution provides for both direct and indirect primaries, but the direct option is more democratic and it is more participatory.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Media Office signed by Tunde Rahman, Asiwaju Tinubu also commended the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for leading the party toward greater democracy, which means increased participation of all party members in key decisions that affect them.

The statement entitled “Internal Democracy: Improving the Nomination Process” reads in part, “From its inception, our party has held to principles of internal democracy and, by the open and fair conduct of our conventions, we have distinguished ourselves from all other political parties.

While we have achieved more than others with regard to internal democracy, there is still more to be done in order to perfect our internal procedures and mechanisms.

“This consideration was a key factor in the election of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as party chairman. Core to that mandate is the improvement of democracy within the party so that we may become even better representatives of the people.

“The decision of the National Working Committee approving a direct primary to elect the party’s candidate for Osun election is a ground-breaking step toward achieving this fine objective. By this decision, the party affirms its democratic inclinations.

When the history of this moment is written, those looking back on this decision will say that it was an inevitable natural consequence of party evolution.

“However, I know differently. This decision took courage and conviction because it bucked the old ways in order to bring about something better and new.

Comrade Oshiomhole deserves commendation for leading the party toward greater democracy, which means increased participation of all party members in key decisions that affect them,” he said.