Direct Primary is Right Way to Go, Says Abba Moro

*CSOs urge Buhari not to let down Nigerians, diplomatic community

Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A former Minister of Internal Affairs and Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Patrick Abba Moro, has said the amendment of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly to make direct primary mandatory for political parties in choosing candidates for elections was a step in the right direction.

This, however, came at the time the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Civil Society Partners on Electoral Reform, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to disappoint Nigerians and the International community by ensuring he assented to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Speaking in an interview, Moro, a one-time Interior Minister, wondered why anyone, who meant well for the advancement of democracy in the country would be opposed to the adoption of a direct primary system, which would give power to the people and a sense of belonging to the entire members of a political party.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker said, the indirect primary method, where a few persons decided who became candidates of a political party without consideration for the views of the generality of the membership had resulted in the bastardisation and debasement of democratic values in Nigeria.

“Quite frankly I support direct primaries, because I think that is the best and right way to go now in this country. Our democracy has been bastardised by the delegate system (indirect primary mode), which has become a cesspool of corruption that democracy is on sale. People now ask for as much as N500, 000 per delegate. People now propose to give as much as one million naira per delegate to buy their votes. This is certainly a classical situation of democracy on sale which is unacceptable.

“In the beginning of our present democratic dispensation it was option A4. It was direct primaries in which rather than narrowing down the electors to a few number of delegates, a sizeable number of registered party members are allowed to choose their leaders. It was smooth. It was hitch-free.

“People express fears of the cost of direct primaries, and I said that it is self-serving for anybody to input high cost to direct primaries and scaring the government into believing that it would amount to huge cost on the part of government. Government doesn’t conduct primaries for political parties.

“Political parties conduct primaries but they don’t bear the cost of primaries. Of course, yes, they pay officials to go conduct primaries. But candidates, who aspire to political offices are responsible for persuading and inducing delegates to primaries whether direct or indirect to vote for them. The government doesn’t bear the cost,” he said

Urging the president to demonstrate courage and put an end to the suspense created by the delay in signing the bill that was transmitted to him last month by the National Assembly, the CSOs in a statement by the Executive Director, Adopt A Goal for Development Initiative, Ariyo-Dare Atoye; Maryam Ahmed of Centre for Liberty; Jude Feranmi of Raising New Voices; Ken Eze of Speak Out Africa Initiative and Simi Olusola of The Nigerian Alliance, said Buhari’s legacy was at stake.

“If the reports that the President will be travelling outside the country are true, Mr President should immediately give his assent to bill to avoid the endless apprehension. The electoral legacy of President Buhari is at stake with this bill because all democratic and electoral institutions, the people and international partners on elections have invested their trust in it.

“We urge Mr. President not to disappoint Nigerians, our foreign partners and the comity of democratic nations; we urge him to show courage, commitment and rise above partisanship to give assent to the bill. Our appeal to President Buhari is to end the suspense and the apprehension by signing this important bill in a matter of hours and before December 19.”