The Direct Primaries blues.

– Steve Ovirih.

It feels good to know that both the Senate and House of Representatives have jointly concurred on the mode of primaries for the political parties in Nigeria. The two law making bodies of the National Assembly (NASS) have passed the harmonised version of the Electoral Act( Amendment) Bill, 2021. A very great step towards advancing the cause of active party politics in a way that will consolidate the gains of Democracy.

Prior to the passage of the bill, there had been a hoopla about what mode of primaries should political parties in Nigeria adopt in electing their candidates for elective positions. Unarguably, certain political forces have hijacked the Indirect primary system at the expense of the party and the hijack of the party system has made the entire party structure to be at the mercy of these forces.

Under the Indirect Primaries , group of delegates are chosen from ward to Local Government and the State level. More or less like representative government , these chosen delegates select a particular candidate onbehaf of the party and these candidates indirectly chosen become the choice for the voters. Take for instance , a party structure that has been taken over by a sitting Governor , like puppet and marionette, the Governor indirectly pulls the string and whips into line the delegates to do his bidding. This has been the major argument against indirect primaries. Of a truth, hardly can any one individual political force pull a stunt that can checkmate the overbearing influence of a power conscious Governor or President. In Democracy however, voters checkmate the rulers, in saner climes.

It will be a logical reasoning perhaps that The National Assembly in its bid to give the party faithfuls the grace not to be muffled, they voted for the adoption of Direct Primaries. While not making attempt to sound like a pessimist, I had thought the National Assembly may not really be able to pull it through because some of them are supposed to be ‘ in the good book’ of their State Governors , thus the desire for them to collectively advance Democracy by putting the right to choose party candidates withing the reach of ordinary card carrying members is quite commendable.

In the amendment bill , the Federal Law Makers in both Chambers okayed direct primaries for all aspirants to all elective positions in all political parties. Bravo!

They also empower the Independent National Electrical Commission ( INEC) to determine the procedure for voting and reliance on electronic transmissions of results during an election. There is no doubt this will strengthen the electoral process and election into Federal, state and area council elections in Abuja, the FCT.

Talk about citizens concern about the electoral process , the 9th Assembly has been proactive enough to take care of them , particularly the mode of primaries and the use of high techie in subsequent election.

What is more? With the passage of the Electoral Amendment Act which now requires the assent of the President, the 9th Assembly has provided the consolidated legal framework for credible elections , come 2023.

All things been equal, party members are set to be king again as the Direct Primaries will turn them to the beautiful pride who will determine their choice of candidate through the choice of their thumb and not through some well tailored and perfectly tele guided delegates whose consciences are always muscled and influenced prior to party primaries .