The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District in the red chambers of the Nigerian Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele has declared that he is in support of direct mode of party primaries, which will give room for mass participation of the people at any point in time.
He was responding to questions at the APC National Secretariat when he came to submit his expression of interest form, noting that there is no mode of party primaries that will be acceptable to party aspirants but the decision to choose which lies with the party and whatever the party decides he is willing to accept it.
“As an individual, that is my preference. I believe direct primaries is a way of giving power back to the people. Basically, the refusal of Mr President to sign (Electoral Act) also is not because the President is fundamentally opposed to the direct mode of primaries because of some logistics concerns.
“The good thing about it is if you hold direct primaries in an isolated election holding in Ekiti or holding in Osun which would be the only election in the country by the time is holding, I don’t think that’s a kind of logistic concern that would offset anything or cause pain for anyone. So, I really feel that the leadership of the party will take whatever decision is in the best interest of the party.
“You may not have a particular model that will be acceptable to all aspirants at the same time and that’s part of the essence of democracy. And that’s why the constitution of the party provides for three different modes of conducting primary elections.
“So it’s up to the leadership of the party but if I would speak for myself, I would say definitely it cannot be a census. I don’t see that happening. As of my last count, at least seven, people had obtained the nomination form and expression of interest form. The form is not closed yet meaning that anytime between now and the 11th of January, there could be more applicants coming to join the race. So in that kind of a situation, you don’t push for a consensus unless it is coming from within and among the aspirants themselves.
“So the two other modes that will then appear to be open are either the direct or the indirect mode of primary. If you ask me as an individual, what is my preference? I would say any day, I would prefer the direct mode of primaries. Just because one, for me, it is a way of ensuring participatory democracy, which makes it possible for every card-carrying member of the party to participate in the decision-making process.
“It also helps to ensure that the most popular aspirant emerges which also gives a lot of impetus to the rank-and-file members of the party who feel proud that they were part of the decision-making process and that it was their decision that carry the day. That instantly gives them the enthusiasm that is needed for them to be able to even actively participate in the general election campaign, that’s my preference. That’s my choice. It does not really mean that if the party chooses the indirect mode of primaries or any other one, it will not foreclose me from participating”, he stated.
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“To the glory of God, I have completed a comprehensive tour of all the 16 local governments in Ekiti and we have not stopped our consultation. Consultation is still going on with stakeholders of the party both within Ekiti State as well as outside Ekiti state but most importantly, every card-carrying member of the party in Ekiti state is aware of what we are doing.
“And we are reaching out to them and answering their questions and addressing their concerns. And I just want to say that I remain hopeful that by the grace of God, I would emerge as the governorship candidate of our party via the primary election slated for Saturday 22nd of January 2022”, he said.
On the question of President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent interview, the lawmaker revealed that the National Assembly will revisit his refusal on the contentious amendment bill.
“He has spoken as the president and Commander-in-chief of the country. He also has spoken as leader of our party. I belong to the legislative arm of government as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but there is also the common ground of my also belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Mr President himself. So definitely, he has spoken. and by the time we are back in Chamber, we will also re-visit the pending issue to be addressed at the National Assembly and we definitely need to take a look at it and take whatever decision will believe is in the best interest of our democracy and in the best interest of the Nigerian nation.
“Definitely it is an issue that needs to be addressed and on which we need to finalise. We are all agreeable to one thing in both the executive and the legislative arms of government which is the need to bequeath to our country an enduring, credible and people-centric electoral law that will help to not only stabilize and strengthen but also grow our democracy. So, if all these efforts are geared towards that, I’m sure there’ll be a meeting point at the end of the day. So definitely it’s an issue that will be addressed decisively once we resume back in session”, he noted.
