The All Progressives Congress has opted to use the direct primary method to elect its candidate for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
This was announced by the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, after a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee at the party’s National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Monday.
He explained that the decision was informed by his administration’s determination to ensure that party members took ownership of the party in order to entrench proper democratic ideals.
According to him, the direct primary method was more democratic because it reduces the opportunity for corruption.
Oshiomhole stressed that concentrating the power to choose the party’s candidate in the hands of a few delegates was more prone to corruption.
He noted that the party had commenced the process of organising the primary election among the 17 aspirants who had obtained nomination forms and had been cleared to contest by the panel set up for the purpose of screening.
Oshimhole said, “We are impressed that the 17 of them are competent enough to effectively govern the state and that we do not lack competent hands to provide leadership in Osun State after the exit of Rauf Aregbesola.
“We have decided that in order to ensure popular participation, and to deepen democracy in Osun State, in line with the provisions of our party constitution which allows for either direct or indirect primary; we have resolved that the governorship election primary in Osun State will be conducted on the basis of the direct primary.
“What that means is that every card-carrying member of our party will participate in the process of nominating the candidate of the party.”
The party chairman also urged security agencies to bring the perpetrators of the senseless killings in Sokoto and other parts of the country to justice.
