On Direct Primary, I Stand With Comrade Adam Oshiomhole.

Alex Aidaghese shared a post.

September 9 · 

About a day or so to the Ekiti State APC Gubernatorial Primary, my good friend, a gentleman I admire with passion beginning from his journalism career, Ojudu Babafemi, pulled out of the race. I was personally hurt, and I let out my anger here on Facebook, blaming it on the sins of money and undue influence.

I condemned a primary process that encourages inequalities and doesn't take into account the feelings or opinions of those popularly referred to as the grassroots followers or supporters. In the essay, I called these ordinary folks the Ekiti Talakawa.

My argument was that Senator Ojudu Babafemi is more authentic, more progressive, and more of an Awoist than Governor Fayose of PDP and former Governor Fayemi of APC to the Ekiti Talakawas.

And based on that affinity to the ordinary people, my argument was, he would have won both the Primary and Guber race convincingly - that's if they had allowed the ordinary people to participate at the Primary - without resorting to a court for a final resolution.

And to my utmost surprise, a few days after the publication, Comrade Oshiomhole introduced the Direct Primary Model. A model that seemingly mirrors my argument. And sadly though, poured "san san" for the Garri of glorified party delegates. In other words, there is no more free money flowing around during Primaries.

What impresses me the most about the model, is that imposition of candidates on the electorates as State Governors, including Comrade Oshiomhole, have done in the past is now history.

So, I can now decide to run, if I want, for the position of Senate in Edo State Central Senatorial District, knowing full well that I won't be greasing the palms of any delegate, and fully convinced as well, that Comrade Oshiomhole and Governor Obaseki are not going to impose any candidate on the people of Edo Central Senatorial District. Yes, I support the Direct Primary Model.

Edo Gist

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September 9

APC primaries: Delegates join govs to battle Oshiomhole, senators

Delegates who emerged through the congresses of the All Progressives Congress at the ward and local governments levels earlier this year have joined their state party executives and governors to reject the direct primary option proposed by the National Working Committee of the party.

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that delegates, who bought forms and contested elections before they emerged as party officials at all levels, had vowed to work against the interest of the governors if they embraced the direct primary option.

A leader of the APC in one of the South-West states, who is also a delegate, told one of our correspondents that it would be unfair to deny ward and local government officers of the party the opportunity to “reap from their investments” during the general elections.

He said, “There are lots of advantages in being a delegate. At least, you are assured that you will make enough money to defray the expenses you incurred in the course of your election.

“Where do they expect this to happen now with the direct primary option? The aspirant will expect you as ward leader to share the money given to you among all your members. That does not make sense at all.”

A source, who was a delegate in the last governorship election primary in Ondo State last year, alleged that two leading aspirants of the APC gave out N200,000 each to every delegate while three others spent N150,000 each to settle each of the delegates.

He said, “The implication of this is that a very smart delegate could pocket about N700,000 without much stress. It would be impossible to make much money in a direct primary arrangement.”

Another delegate in the last Ekiti governorship election also confirmed to one of our correspondents that each leading aspirant, who contested the APC primary, also spent between N150,000 and N200,000 to bribe each of the delegates.

He said, “That is why we are on the same page with the governors to fight the senators who are pushing for the direct primary in order to secure automatic tickets from President Muhammadu Buhari and our National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.”

The party’s National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, had, in a statement in April, said ward chairmanship aspirants would pay N10,000 each to obtain the nomination form and that aspirants for other ward offices would pay N2,000.