Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory
Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), on Sunday said he is in
support of the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt direct primary method
for the selection of the party’s governorship candidate in Edo
State.
The Edo state chapter of the APC and the national leadership of
the party are currently locked in a battle on the mode of primary
to be used in choosing the flagbearer of the party.
While Edo APC led by Anselm Ojezua said it is adopting the
indirect primary method for the emergence of the party’s flagbearer
in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state, the
NWC said it has adopted the direct primary option.
Speaking, Sagay said any aspirant who feels he is popular with
the party members shouldn’t oppose the direct primary method, which
according to him is more democratic.
“My impression is that it is the national body that organises
primaries for governorship elections, not the state executive of
APC. If that is the case, what it means is that Oshiomhole is
right.
“Secondly, in my view, the direct primary in which all party
members are allowed to participate is more democratic, it reflects
the views and aspirations of all the members in the grassroots but
the indirect primary in which only delegates are allowed to vote is
subject to manipulation, imposition and so it is undemocratic.
“So, I prefer the direct primary method and I believe the APC
NWC has the right to determine which type of primary should be
adopted. Any contender who is popular with the people will prefer
the direct primary method,” Sagay said.
Professor Itse Sagay, SAN, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory
Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), on Sunday said he is in
support of the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt direct primary method
for the selection of the party’s governorship candidate in Edo
State.
The Edo state chapter of the APC and the national leadership of
the party are currently locked in a battle on the mode of primary
to be used in choosing the flagbearer of the party.
While Edo APC led by Anselm Ojezua said it is adopting the
indirect primary method for the emergence of the party’s flagbearer
in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state, the
NWC said it has adopted the direct primary option.
Speaking, Sagay said any aspirant who feels he is popular with
the party members shouldn’t oppose the direct primary method, which
according to him is more democratic.
“My impression is that it is the national body that organises
primaries for governorship elections, not the state executive of
APC. If that is the case, what it means is that Oshiomhole is
right.
“Secondly, in my view, the direct primary in which all party
members are allowed to participate is more democratic, it reflects
the views and aspirations of all the members in the grassroots but
the indirect primary in which only delegates are allowed to vote is
subject to manipulation, imposition and so it is undemocratic.
“So, I prefer the direct primary method and I believe the APC
NWC has the right to determine which type of primary should be
adopted. Any contender who is popular with the people will prefer
the direct primary method,” Sagay said.