Edo: We’ll Relate Only With National Chairman/Secretary Of Political Parties On Primaries – INEC 

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Following controversy being generated over the type of party primary to be adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that based on its rules, regulations and laws, it can only honour and accept the mode submitted to it by the National chairman of the party.

The Commission also said that notwithstanding whatever is happening in Edo and other States chapters of the APC, it would only in accordance with the laws and regulations, recognise the date, venue and type of party primaries that would be submitted to it by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq, who stated the position of INEC on Sunday, explained that the provisions of the laws, rules and regulations only permit the electoral commission to communicate with these two top officials of registered political parties.

Speaking with Forefront News in a telephone interview, Okoye said 15 out of the 18 political parties in the country have indicated intention to conduct primaries, adding that 14 of the parties equally adopted the Indirect Mode of Primaries except the ruling APC that decided on the Direct Primaries for the selection of its candidate.

According to the INEC National Commissioner; “It is strictly the business of political parties to choose what mode of primary they want to adopt as long as they follow their own constitution.”

“In accordance with with our rules and procedures, INEC does not deal with State branches of political parties in matters relating to or connected with the conduct of 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.

“Either way, the Commission will not and cannot dictate to political parties the mode of primaries to adopt. It is strictly a party affair.”

The two factions of APC in Edo State led by Governor Godwin Obaseki and APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, have been locked in bitter squabbles over the type of primary that would be used to elect the party’s flag bearer for the September 19, 2020 Governorship election in the state.

While the camp of APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, believed to be supporting the State party factional chairman, David Imuse, is insisting on Direct Primaries, the Governor Obaseki-led faction chaired by Mr Anselm Ojezua, has ruled out Direct Primaries, insisting on Indirect Primaries for the selection of the party’s governorship candidate.

Already, the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in a letter to INEC, dated May 19, 2020, stated that the party had chosen the Direct Primaries for the selection of its governorship candidate for the September election.

On his part, Chairman of the Obaseki-led faction, Mr Anselm Ojezua, said the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party has already chosen Indirect Primary, alleging that the National Executive Committee (NEC), through the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party headed by Oshiomhole, is working to impose Direct Primary on the State chapter of the Party in order to oust Governor Obaseki.

In what looks a direct counter to the position of the National Chairman of the APC, Governor Obaseki on Friday signed a gazette banning political gatherings such that would make Direct Primaries difficult to implement, stressing that going by the provisions of the gazette, only Indirect Primary can hold in the state and in only one location.

It was gathered that the ruling Party is making moves to rubbish the gazette by either moving the party primaries outside the state like it happened in the past when some political parties moved that party congresses and primaries to Abuja and some other state capitals.