Ekiti APC guber primary, proof direct primary best for Nigeria – NHRC

Sun

From Priscilla Ediare, Ado Ekiti

A civil society group, Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), has said the Ekiti State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary that produced Hon Biodun Oyebanji as the party’s candidate for the June 18 poll showed that direct primary remains the best option for political parties in Nigeria.

The group said while there could be different options like indirect and consensus, direct primary offers the greatest opportunity for robust participation.

The coalition of groups established close to two decades ago, said its observation while monitoring the APC primary held on Thursday, January 27, in the state, indicated that the election had its pitfalls, but that the poll proved that direct participation of members of political parties in choosing the parties’ candidates remains the best option for Nigeria.

In its preliminary reports, jointly signed by the group’s Programme Officer, Fred Ojinika and its South West Coordinator, Odebunmi Ajayi, on Saturday, said ” the primary was not without minor hitches but that it represented the wish and aspirations of the majority of members of APC in Ekiti State.”

The group advised Nigerians to disregard reports being released by people who did not witness or monitor the primary, saying “these are people guided by stereotyping, wild assumptions and aspirants who saw the primary as a must-win venture.”

The NHRC, a coalition of civil society groups spread across Nigeria, said: “It was the only civil society body that monitored the APC primary election in Ekiti State.”