Details of the discussions and outcome of Tuesday nights All Progressives Congress, (APC), Caucus meeting are now emerging as sources in attendance say the party is now building a consensus on adopting direct primaries.
Direct primary, which is now used in some form in all States in America, functions as a preliminary election whereby voters decide their partys candidates. In an indirect primary, however, voters elect delegates who choose the partys candidates at a nominating Convention.
Sources told newsmen that the meeting, presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, with leaders of the National Assembly, party Caretaker Committee Chair and representatives of governors, ended with an understanding shared by governors and federal legislators that direct primaries being actively canvassed by the lawmakers ‘is not entirely unacceptable’.
The Caucus concluded that with the expected assent of President Muhammadu Buhari on the just-passed Electoral Amendment Bill, the party leaders are ready to stick together on direct primaries.
It was further learnt that the meeting opened with the vice president urging members of the Caucus to maintain unity and ensure that leaders in different arms of government and those in the party leadership agree on a common decision.
According to a source familiar with the controversy on primaries, the vice president, like the president, neither favoured governors supporting indirect primary nor federal lawmakers in support of direct primary.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on his part, called for strict adherence to the Constitution of the party as well as relevant laws of the country in the conduct of party activities, including primaries.
He said the passage of the Bill which amended the Electoral Act 2021 by both chambers of the National Assembly was a statement of its commitment to the partys victory in 2023.
Governor Abubakar Bagudu, of Kebbi, who spoke on behalf of the governors, said the issues bordering on the concluded State primaries would be resolved. According to him, the governors are committed to an amicable resolution of the lingering issues ahead of the 2023 elections.
The vice-president, in closing, restated his position that what was important for him was to ensure that the party proceeded as one united force. He also expressed satisfaction that the party would emerge stronger and better.
