House of Representatives Speaker said
President Muhammadu Buhari is in
support of the direct mode of selecting
candidates for elections by political
parties.
Also, the National Assembly disclosed
plans to forward the Electoral Act Bill to
the President this week for assent.

Hailing the parliament for the retention of
the clause, some All Progressives Congress
(APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
chieftains said it will foster greater
participation of members in party affairs.
There had been a sharp disagreement
between the National Assembly and
governors over the direct mode.
While the Senate and the House of
Representatives retained direct primary in
the Electoral Act Bill, the governors are
insisting on the indirect primary.
APC governors under the aegis of the
Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF)
declined to react to the Speaker’s
statement.

The Director-General of the Forum, Dr.
Salihu Lukman, said APC governors will not
react to mere visits by any leader of the
National Assembly to the Presidential Villa
over the bill.
Gbajabiamila, who spoke with State House
Correspondents in Abuja after meeting
with the President, said Buhari supported
direct primary.
He described the President as a product of
direct primary because of his popularity,
adding that he has opened up the political
space for the youths to participate.
He noted that the indirect primary has not
helped the growth of democracy.
He assured that the President would sign
the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
Gbajabiamila said: “If I tell you we didn’t
discuss the Electoral Act amendment,
which is what I am sure you are asking
about, if I tell you we didn’t discuss that, I
will be lying to you.
“We had a very robust discussion and our
position is known to the President.”
On the position of the National Assembly,
Gbajabiamila added: “Are you not aware
that the National Assembly has passed the
direct primary and electronic transmission
of election results? That is the position of
the National Assembly. It has passed
through both Houses.
“We have passed the law. The official
position of House of Representatives and
the Senate, we are for direct primary. We
are for empowering the people at the
grassroots level. Let everybody participate
in governance.
“Democracy is defined as a government of
the people, for the people and by the
people. ‘People’ is used three times in that
definition. And it doesn’t start from
general elections. It starts from primaries.
So, we have made it very clear
abundantly.”
Gbajabiamila defended the direct primary,
saying: “It (indirect primary) has been like
that for a long time and it’s not helping
our democracy. It is not growing and
deepening our democracy.https://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-backs-lawmakers-position-on-direct-primary/
mynd44 oam4j lalasticlala seun

Good one Politics back to the
grassroots.
No more fat envelops for those greedy delegates during party primaries.
God bless Buhari God bless Nigeria

Yinmu

Best way to go.

Performing governors shouldn't have issue with that

helinues:
Best way to go.

Performing governors shouldn't have issue with that

True talk bro Democracy in action.

Direct primary is the way to go for all the political parties to choose their candidates during election so as to allow all card carrying members to decide the party candidate instead of a sitting governor single handedly deciding who will represent the party

Noted

UAE123:
Direct primary is the way to go for all the political parties to choose their candidates during election so as to allow all card carrying members to decide the party candidate instead of a sitting governor single handedly deciding who will represent the party

Agree without reservation.

I hope is going to be for all the elective positions though

One shortcoming of Nigeria public policy process is the lack of element of exhaustive SWOT Analysis of an idea and the development of 'bolt and nut' implementation steps to avoid identified weaknesses and threats. That's why process abuse and faliure are epidemic.

I am saying that a group of people have to sit down to study and articulate ways of organising Direct Party Primaries in Nigeria with minimal logistical challenges, members' register issue, process abuses, etc. based on experiences and peculiarities of our political environment. May be the political parties should pull resources and appoint some independent eggheads to do this for them.

As an illustration, APC used Direct Primary for recent Anambra Governorship election but the National Caretaker Committee connived with Gov. Uzodimma and Gov. Abiodun to install Andy Ubah without any primary. Has any lessons learnt from this? Has any antidote developed?

Well ...

UAE123:
Direct primary is the way to go for all the political parties to choose their candidates during election so as to allow all card carrying members to decide the party candidate instead of a sitting governor single handedly deciding who will represent the party

That's just it. Only those with no good record/achievements are the one frowning about direct primary

Direct primary is better.

very good... Governors left the group chat.

At the end of the day, still the rubbish normal normal