The Ekiti State All Progressives Congress, APC, primary has proved that Direct Primary remains the best option for party’s internal democracy in Nigeria, the Nigerian Human Rights Community, NHRC, has said.
The group which monitored the APC Ekiti Primary said while there could be different options like indirect and consensus candidate, indirect primary offerred the greatest opportunity for political inclusion.
The coalition of several civil society groups established in close to two decades ago said the APC Ekiti Primary was, however, not without challenges but that the poll proved that direct participation of members of political parties in chosing the party’s aspirants remained the best option for Nigeria.
In its preliminary reports, the NHRC said the primary represented the wish and aspirations of majority if members of APC in Ekiti State.
The group advised Nigerians to disregards reports being released by people who did not witness or monitor the primary.
The coalition said it had earlier written to the major stakeholders of the party indicating its intention to monitor the primary election adding that the NHRC was in possession of audio and visual evidence in several polling units, wards and communities in order to produce authentic and verifiable account of the primary.
The coalition said the outcome of the primary was seen celebrated across the state in rural and urban communities by the young, the old, men and women alike indicating an expression of a popular choice.
We saw people’s enthusiasm, confidence and trust in democracy. Even in the face of prevailing challenges, people feel honoured and excited that they were involved in choosing who would represent their political party at the poll.
The feeling of excitement, the group said, strengthened the prospect of greater inclusion and public participation in party internal democracy.
NHRC said it would be unfair to undermine this unique signpost associated with the Direct Primary in Ekiti State.
The NHRC said in a statement signed by its officials, Fred Ojinika and Odebunmi Ajayi, that the best way to prevent rigging was to use Direct Primary since Nigerian politicians protesting the outcome of every election had become a ritual.
