November 09, (THEWILL) – A meeting of the enlarged Tripartite Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve disagreements in the All Progressive (APC) on Tuesday agreed to the use of direct primaries by parties to select their candidates.
Meeting at the Banquet Hall of the presidential villa, Abuja, the meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, adopted the recommendation of the the National Assembly in the amended 2010 Electoral Act.
According to a Presidency source who was at the meeting, the Committee insisted that direct primary was the way to go as they argued that it had been working for the electorate
“The meeting adopted the National Assembly’s position. It is already in the electoral amendment bill pass by the NASS and awaiting presidential assent”, the source said.
Confirming the development, the Special Adviser to the President on Politics, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, hailed the party leaders for reaching an agreement in a democratic manner.
“I think the outcome of today’s meeting is victory for internal democracy in APC. You recall that, in his sagely wisdom, President Muhammadu Buhari had set up a tripartite mechanism to interface whenever conflicts of this nature arose between the party, the body of governors and members of the National Assembly.
“Acting on the President’s mandate, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo called today’s meeting to allow for all parties to ventilate their voices in a no-holds-barred manner. It was a family meeting. At the end, a common ground was reached”, Senator Ojudu said
Also, Former governor of Kebbi State and serving senator, Adamu Aleiro, told correspondents after the meeting that what the National Assembly had done in providing for direct primary in the just passed Electoral Bill for parties is the best for the country.
However, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, said the fear of the Executive is the lack of alternatives provided in case the direct primaries fail.
“This is the Tripartite Committee set up by the president being the executive, the legislature and our great party to ensure that every topical issue that affects the people of this country at various arms of government is well discussed by the party and taken a good decision in the best interest of everybody”, Governor Bello said.
He said the final decision on the matter rests with President Buhari who he noted will decide whether to assent to the Electoral Bill or return it to the National Assembly.
About the Author
