Skip to main content

Kaduna APC Stakeholders Petition Oshiomhole, Insist On Direct Primaries

September 5, 2018

"The delegates' system, otherwise called Indirect Primaries, will rely on the whims and caprices of the few that now control the party after emerging from ward, local government and state congresses that have been widely rejected by the party members as a sham," the group stated.

Image

A group, under the aegis of Kaduna State APC Aspirants and Stakeholders Forum, has stated that it would prefer the adoption of direct primaries for all elective positions in the state

This was contained in a letter dated September 4, 2018 and addressed to Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), jointly signed by all the aspirants from the state and submitted at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, on Tuesday.

The group, which was led by Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, said there had been disquiet in the camp of the Kaduna APC chapter over the past three years as a result of what they referred to as marginalisation and outright exclusion.

The group noted that indirect primaries would "rely on the whims and caprices" of a few people said to be in control of the party, after emerging from the congresses conducted in the state.

The letter read: "We the  aspirants and stakeholders of the Kaduna State chapter of our great party, APC, present our best compliments to you and wish by this letter to inform Your Excellency of our collective decision to adopt Direct Primaries as the preferred  mode of nominating candidates at primary elections into all elective positions in the state.

"The delegates' system, otherwise called Indirect Primaries, will rely on the whims and caprices of the few that now control the party after emerging from ward, local government and state congresses that have been widely rejected by the party members as a sham.

"Hundreds of our party members who bought forms with a view to vying for various wards, local government and state party executive positions were deliberately excluded from the process and, in some instances, even intentionally blocked from submitting their forms. Nor were they even consulted ahead of the so-called processes of affirmation of officials of the party."

The group alleged that proponents of indirect primaries in the state, particularly the governor and his supporters, rely on the excuse that the current security situation in the state makes direct primaries impracticable and risky. 

"This argument is not nearly as clever as it should be, considering that it outrightly contradicts claims by the same governor that Kaduna State has been made secure.

"We the undersigned  are particularly in opposition to Indirect Primaries because of the weakening effects of its corruptive tendencies. The entire process begins and ends with vote buying. And, as it is always the case where the will of the general electorate is subverted, the best candidates for the tasks at hand never get recruited. It is our humble opinion that the forthcoming 2019 general election is too crucial for the APC and Kaduna State, too strategic for us to confront the array of near formidable candidates of the opposition with anything less than our best candidates," the letter read.

The aspirants noted that the decision of the group to adopt direct primaries in Kaduna State is aimed at building a strong and people-oriented party.

Signatories to the letter included: Senator Shehu Sani; Senator Mohammed Sani Saleh; Alhaji Aliyu Silver; Hon. Shamsuddeen Shehu Giwa; Hon. Rufai Chanchangi and Hon. Muhammed  Musa Soba .

Others were: Jalal Lal; Hon. Usman Ibrahim; Hon. Hassan Samdi; Hon. Umar Isa; Hon. Aminu Saa'd Aminchi; Hon. Yusuf Ali; Hon. Sani Magaji; Hon. Rufai Surajo and Hon. Sani Abdul.