Sylvester Idowu in Warri
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Delta State, has protested against the plan of its factional chairman, Mr. Jones Erue to reverse the adoption of direct primaries.
The chapter expressed its concern in a letter to the APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole and the National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday.
The letter, which was signed by the Chairman of Delta APC, Chief Cyril Ogodo, warned against the plan, noting that the party stakeholders across the state had adopted direct primaries.
It noted that the indirect primaries, which Erue’s faction is asking the NWC to allow in Delta State, would give undue advantange to a governorship aspirants in the party.
It added that the State Working Committee (SWC) had adopted direct primaries to elect it candidates for 2019 elections, saying the party reached the decision at the expanded State Executive Committee meeting held on September 6.
It claimed that the meeting which was attended by members of the APC State Working Committee, 25 LGA chairmen, secretaries and youth leaders and about 270 wards chairmen resolved to adopt direct primaries to give all aspirants level playing ground.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the chapter approved direct primaries to choose all candidates seeking elective positions on the APC platform in the state while reject.
The communiqué commended Oshiomhole andmembers of the National Working Committee (NWC) on their recent decision “to entrench internal democracy in the Party through the approval for the use of Direct Primaries in choosing our flag bearers.”
It also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for repositioning Nigeria to greatness, noting that the Delta APC “is excited like many other Nigerians that Buhari’s leadership style has rekindled our hope in democracy.
“Delta APC hereby adopts and affirms the use of direct primaries. The above decision affirms our Party’s disposition and desire to make our elections in 2019 and beyond truly reflect the will of the people as there cannot be democracy without the people’s participation”, the communiqué said.
But Erue’s faction, comprising Chief Great Ogboru and Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege group kicked against direct primaries, claiming that it would promote attendant insecurity if adopted.
Erue noted that the party stakeholders would give undue advantage to one of the governorship aspirants and his group in the party, thereby suggesting that indirect primaries should be adopted instead of direct primaries.
