Governor Godwin Obaseki, once again kicked against the
approval of direct primary mode for the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
There have been disagreements between the camp of the
National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and that of Edo State
Governor over the mode to be used for the governorship primary slated for June
22 this year.
Oshiomhole’s camp proposed direct mode, while Obaseki and
his supporters vehemently faulted it, insisting that indirect mode be used.
However, Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and
Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) confirmed the
approval of direct primary for Edo APC and indirect for other parties that have
shown interest in the governorship election including the People’s Democratic
Party.
He said the decision was reached at the end of the INEC
management meeting held virtually on Tuesday.
However, Governor Obaseki through his media aide, Crusoe
Osagie, said INEC only approved the mode of primary Oshiomhole requested.
“Right now, there is a restraining order on APC, Oshiomhole,
and all the other agencies from carrying out any activity relating to the
primary in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit before
the Court.”
He said aside from the Court order, there is a regulation
monitoring the activities due to COVID-19 in Nigeria and Edo state, which prevents
anybody to carry out activities that are similar to direct primary election in
the state.
According to him, other parties have complied and it is
expected that the APC should comply too, adding ‘there is an order on ground
preventing people from gathering in all the local governments and 192 wards of
the state for the purpose of direct primary.
Also speaking, the factional chairman of the Governor
Obaseki’s faction, said there is a court order that restrains anybody from
conducting primary in the state.
He noted that it is not INEC that conducts the primary
election but the party.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Oshiomhole’s faction David Imuse
said it is the party that has decided on direct primary election and that
nobody can change that.
Reacting to the altercation and rising tension over the mode
of primary, Okoye had said;
“INEC does not deal with state branches of political parties
in matters relating to or connected with the conduct of party primaries.
“Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) makes
it mandatory for political parties intending to nominate candidates for
elective offices to give the commission 21 days’ notice of its intention to
conduct party primaries.
“In our rules and regulations, the letter to this effect is
signed by the national chairman and national secretary of political parties
indicating the date, time and venue for the conduct of party primaries and the
mode of the primaries.
“The mode of primaries to be adopted by political parties is
a function of their constitution, the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and the
regulations and guidelines issued by INEC.
“So, we don’t have business with state branches of political
parties because our rules, regulations and laws say we should relate with the
national chairman and the national secretary in terms of fixing party
primaries, whether direct or indirect.”
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