Tag: Party primaries

Political parties to determine outcome, bear cost of direct primaries – INEC

Aminu Imam

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), says it will not fund party primaries, whether direct or indirect. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, disclosed this yesterday, when he met with members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation, in Abuja. The Commussion said it has very little role to play in the conduct of direct primaries by political parties for selecting their candidates for elections. The Chairman of the committee, Mukhtar Batera,disclosed this when he addressed newsmen shortly after the closed door meeting in Abuja yesterday. The meeting followed…

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Direct Primary: Buhari writes INEC requesting for advice

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has written a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), requesting advice over the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021. The letter, addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, sought comments on the controversial sole adoption of direct primary option for parties to produce candidates for elections among other key issues ahead of 2023 general elections. Some governors and federal lawmakers have disagreed on the revised Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly on November 9, 2021 over the adoption of direct primaries. Recall that last month,…

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Direct Primaries: President Buhari under pressure as pro/anti-Tinubu forces take positions

Aminu Imam

…Asiwaju favoured in vote-rich States of Kano, Lagos, Borno, Katsina Two different camps within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), were at the weekend mounting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to take their position on the amended Electoral Act Amendment Bill. The pressure on President Buhari, according to multiple sources, is majorly on the contentious provision in the amended Electoral Act that provides for direct primaries in the selection of party candidates for elections. It was gathered that majority of the governors are against the provision, as they feel that…

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APC: “Don’t allow direct primaries row scuttle Electoral Bill”, Party Chieftain, Ramalan warns

Aminu Imam

Former Kaduna APC State Caucus Chairman, Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, has said that the debate on the propriety or otherwise of the provision of direct primaries by the National Assembly in the Electoral Bill recently passed by the lawmakers must not be allowed to scuttle the amendment of the Electoral Act. Ramalan spoke with journalists in Kaduna on Friday at the sideline of the Luncheon Reception after the Wedding Fatiha of the daughter of Alhaji Idi Farouk, which was held at the family’s Unguwar-Rimi residence, GRA, Kaduna. According to…

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2023 election candidates: Nigerians back NASS on adoption of parties direct primaries

Aminu Imam

A cross-section of Nigerians have continued to react to the recent adoption of direct primaries as a condition for political parties to pick candidates for the forthcoming 2023 general elections. According to them, by adopting direct primaries in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the lawmakers are poised for people’s interest. An Abuja-based lawyer, Barr. Ejike Ejiofor, commended the National Assembly for the move, saying it offered Nigerians increased hope for redemption as the 2023 elections approaches. According to a Director of aCivil Society Organisation, ‘Citizens Awareness Platform, Oslomb Ahamba, direct…

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Parties direct primary: Governors angry over uncertainty to produce successors, win senatorial tickets

Aminu Imam

There are strong indications that many governors are angry that the direct mode of primaries passed by the National Assembly may deny them the opportunity of producing their successors or winning senatorial tickets after their tenure, These, it was gathered, were some of the reasons why they opposed the adoption of a direct mode of primaries in the amended electoral act. One of the governors of the All Progressives Congress, who was at the tripartite meeting held at the State House with the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo and members of the…

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‘Direct party primaries to end imposition of candidates, vote-buying, others’ – PGF D-G

Aminu Imam

The Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, yesterday said the amendment of the Electoral Act which forced political parties to adopt direct primaries is vague and would create room for manipulations. Lukman, who made the call in a statement, stressed all grey areas on the matter must be eliminated in order to entrench democratic ideals, adding that the amended Electoral Act did not address some grey areas on the country’s electoral process. There are reports that the amended Electoral Act which was passed by the National Assembly…

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