Direct Primaries Archives - Naija Premium Gist

Governors not against direct primaries – Gov Abdullahi Sule

January 17, 2022 No Comments

The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Sunday dismissed claims in several quarters that state governors are opposed to the adoption of direct primaries by parties in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

Sule, who stated this at a Town Hall meeting on the Electoral Bill, stated categorically that the governors are not against direct primaries.

The National Assembly passed the electoral bill on November 9, 2021 and adopted direct primaries for political parties in the country.

The lawmakers also approved the electronic transmission of results for future elections in Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in December last year declined assent to the electoral bill over the adoption of direct primaries and other contentious issues in the document.

The governor said: “There is a total misunderstanding that the governors are against direct primaries. The governors are definitely not against direct primaries. As a matter of fact, a lot of the states chose whether to do direct or indirect.

“It is not that the state governors are against direct. All we said was that why don’t you leave the options. The Electoral Act is far more than just direct or indirect. There are so many important things there, why are we boxing ourselves with either direct or indirect?

“Give political parties the opportunity. By the time the opportunities are given, you will be shocked in the 2023 elections, a lot of the states will still do direct.”

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has thrown his weight behind the National Assembly’s adoption of direct primary election, saying it was the best for political parties in the country.

Saraki, who addressed journalists during the ninth memorial prayer organised in honour of his late father, Dr. Olusola Saraki, on Sunday in Ilorin, Kwara State, said politicians should not allow the debate generated by the approval of direct primary by the National Assembly to affect the euphoria of having a new electoral law for the country.

Saraki also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill in the interest of Nigerians.

He said: “Direct primary is best for political parties if properly done. But I am sure Nigerians are not prepared for it because there is still a lot of work to be done.

“But now that the National Assembly has passed it, we should make the best out of the situation rather than allowing the controversy, which is one item, to throw away the other good parts of the bill.

“What is important is for the President to sign it and allow Nigerians to benefit from the other parts.”