Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity Secretary
PDP kicks as senate approves direct primaries for parties, says process increases costs of nomination procedures
Main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Senate’s passage of direct primary for the nomination of candidates for election, in all political parties, as ‘a retrogressive provision that seeks to wipe off all the gains achieved in our electoral practice since 1999.’
Senate, Tuesday, had approved the direct primaries mode for all political parties in the country for election into all elective positions, just as it also recommended the primaries should be monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The approval was sequel to motion for Re- Committal of some Clauses of the Electoral Act No.6 2010( Repeal and Re- enactment) Bill , 2021( SB. 122) to the Committee of the Whole as sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC-Kebbi North).
The Senate had earlier approved a provision in the Electoral Bill which allowed parties to use either direct or indirect mode of primaries in nominating candidates for elections during primaries.
The Senate has also agreed that INEC can now determine the mode of transmission of results during elections, including electronic transmission or manual transmission.
Abdullahi in his lead debate said that the amendment to Clause 87 (1) Nomination of candidates by parties, read, “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission”.
This is different from the earlier adopted one which read, ” 87(1) A Political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold direct or Indirect primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which may be monitored by the Commission.”
The approval followed an amendment to Clause 52(3) of the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) during the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Committee had initially recommended in Clause 52(3) that, “The Commission (INEC) may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”
However, reacting to the development at the senate in a statement, Tuesday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP described the decision by the APC-controlled Senate as ‘a humongous blow to the development of democratic norms and a plot to introduce anarchy during internal party elections as currently obtainable in the APC.’
According to the main opposition party, the provision is aimed at increasing the costs of nomination procedures ‘thereby surrendering the processes to money bags against the wishes and aspiration of Nigerians.’
“Our party makes bold to state that with the exception of the APC, which intends to deploy looted funds in future election, hardly will there be any political party that will be able to raise the cost of conducting internal elections under a direct primary process.
“This is why the decision of the Senate has elicited widespread rejection from Nigerians across board.
The PDP therefore urges the Senate to immediately deploy its appropriate legislative instruments to reverse itself on the direct primary as it is not operable and does not reflect the wishes and aspiration of majority of Nigerians,” the PDP said.
