Ekiti APC: Direct Primary best option for parties —NHRC

The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC), yesterday, commended the direct primary adopted by Ekiti State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) to select its flag-bearer in the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for Saturday, June 18, 2022.

In a statement signed by its officials, Fred Ojinika and Odebunmi Ajayi, the coalition that monitored the contest last week, said the exercise proved that direct primary remained the best option for party’s internal democracy.

“While there could be different options, such as indirect and consensus, indirect primary offers the greatest opportunity for political inclusion,” the coalition said.

The civil society groups, established about two decades ago, monitored the APC primary held last Thursday in which Mr. Biodun Oyebanji was chosen as the party’s flag-bearer.

“Ekiti APC primary election was not without challenges, but it proved that direct participation of political party members in choosing their aspirants remains the best option for Nigeria,” the statement said.

NHRC said the primary was not without minor hitches but represented the wish and aspirations of majority of APC members 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 coalition said it earlier wrote to the party stakeholders, indicating its intention to monitor the primary election, adding that NHRC was in possession of audio and visual evidence in several polling units, wards and communities to produce authenticate and verifiable accounts of the primary.

“We saw people’s enthusiasm, confidence and trust in democracy. Even in the face of prevailing challenges, people felt honoured and excited that they were involved in choosing who would represent their political party at the poll. This feeling of excitement strengthened the prospect of greater inclusion and public participation in party internal democracy,” the coalition said.