Primaries: Buhari Disappoints Statutory Delegates

• As APC adjusts timetable again

Huge disappointments have continued for statutory delegates barred from participating in political parties’ congresses and primaries following the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill.

Accordingly, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has again adjusted its Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Governorship, States Houses of Assembly, Senate and House of Representatives Primary Elections.

With dashed hopes going by the President’s stands, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said in a statement late on Monday that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) approved the review at its meeting on Monday, even as it effectively ruled out participation by statutory or super delegates since the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill which would have provided roles for such category of delegates have not been assented to by Mr President.

The revised timetable indicates that the governorship primary elections would hold on Thursday 26th May with only State delegates voting while the primary elections for the State Assemblies would hold on the same day but with only local government delegates entitled to vote.

The following day, local government delegates would also vote in the senatorial primary elections and so same for the House of Representatives primary elections on 28th May.

According to the ruling party; “The Special Convention for the Presidential Primary will be held as scheduled on Sunday, 29th – Monday, 30th of May, 2022”.

In February this year, the President had assented to the current version of the Electoral Act 2022, which prevents statutory delegates from participating in party primaries. However, Section 84 (8) of the Electoral Act 2022, as recently amended by the Senate, contains the provision, which would have guaranteed super delegates the right of participation is still awaiting the Presidential assent.

An APC insider hinted that the delay and the readjustment in the timetable arose from the high hopes by some party stakeholders that the President would give a last-minute assent to the amended bill.