It has been revealed that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Adams Oshiomhole actually informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party had agreed to adopt direct primaries before the NWC meeting.
The adoption of the direct primary for the Edo election has been a point of discussion among party members over the days as the governor, Godwin Obaseki rejected it citing COVID-19.
TheCable reports on Wednesday that three days before Oshiomhole called for the National Working Committee meeting that was held around 7 pm, he had told INEC that the party adopted the direct primary.
Oshiomhole wrote Mahmood Yakubu on May 19, it was gathered, but publicly announced the adoption on May 22nd.
According to the letter, Oshiomhole said “I convey to you my compliments and wish to respectfully inform you that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to conduct direct primary for the Edo state governorship election on Monday, 22 of June.
2020.”
“To this end, we have put in place modalities to ensure strict compliance with the COVID-19 prevention guidelines as announced by the COVID-19 presidential task force (PTF) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“Therefore, direct primaries will be conducted in one hundred and ninety-two wards (192).
“We accordingly invite you as observers of the primaries with full compliance with the All Progressives Congress constitution and the electoral act.”
The direct primary allows all card-carrying members of the party from local government areas of the state to vote for the candidate of their choice while indirect primary involves selecting delegates.
Many governors prefer indirect primary as it makes it easy for them to persuade delegates to vote for them.
Six aspirants are expected to contest in Edo election, however, rumours have it that the National Chairman prefers Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Obaseki and Oshiomhole had been at loggerhead over the control of Edo State. While the latter claimed the governor had neglected his unfinished projects and his allies, the former argued that he was attacked for his refusal to share money to Oshiomhole’s allies.
On Wednesday, Obaseki had asked Oshiomhole to recuse himself from the Edo State governorship primary, arguing that he is an interested party.
As the primary draws nearer, the fight wax stronger as both camps are throwing darts at each other.
