Adeduntan Throws Weight Behind Direct Primary For Electing Party Candidates

Former Oyo State Commissioner of Heath and APC Governorship aspirant,Dr. Azeez Adeduntan has thrown his weight behind direct primaries as the mode of electing parties candidates for the 2023 general elections as proposed by the National Assembly.
Dr. Adeduntan, an International Cardiovascular surgeon also decried the misrepresentation of facts by some Governors regarding COVID-19 and direct primaries.
In a statement in Ibadan, Dr Adeduntan hailed the decision of the National Assembly to propose direct primaries for the political parties come 2023 emphasising that both the indirect and consensus methods are evil, undemocratic ,corruption laden and have failed Nigerians since 1999.
“See quagmire in OYO state where 2021-delegates lists were forged and altered, see Anambra state where APC has not won a single local government because of the process that brought Andy Uba in.”
“As democrats, we found the decision cheering and encouraging and we are therefore shocked that anybody who lays claim to democracy or desire to lead the people would find the decision to let the people decide as a threat or discomforting.”
“Direct Primary is an inclusive way of deciding who flies the party flag with all bonafide members of the party having a chance to make their choice. It gives meaning to membership of the party as followers are included in taking vital decision like who represents their party in the general election “.
The Osi Basorun of Ibadan land advised Governors Kayode Fayemi of EKiti state ,Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state as well as Yahaya Bello of Kogi state not to sell misrepresentation of facts to the public and the presidency,regarding Covid 19 and direct primaries.
He said Progressive Governors Forum are factually incorrect by their statements and assertions on covid 19 and direct primaries.
“It’s very surprising that Governor Bello who denied that his state had COVID 19 at the peak of covid 19 pandemic ;and who never believed in the existence of the pandemic ,will now be hiding behind COVID 19 -thus selling fears to the Nigerian public because of self interest”.
“Governor Bello was even quoted to have said that direct primaries will cause conflicts between the leaders and the people”.
Both positions are opposite in effect relative to the putative advantages of direct primaries compared to indirect and consensus methods of primaries.”
“The governors are hereby put on notice for the sake of public health and education,that direct primaries can be conducted in Nigeria despite COVID-19 as long as the precautionary measures are taken into consideration. “
He said this is evidenced by the successful direct primaries and Presidential elections in the USA in year 2020 where more than 150 million Americans exercised their franchise by voting directly for their choice candidates notwithstanding raging covid 19 infections at that time ,worse than in Nigeria then and as at now.
“Some party leaders who have benefited from the corruption inherent in indirect and consensus methods of candidate selection,are even challenging the electoral act as the provisionstherein especially direct primaries ,run against their parties constitutions.
“It is trite in law ,that you must amend your party’s constitution to fit into the Nigeria’s constitution, else, your law is null and void”-
Osi Basorun Adeduntan stated that he has no aversion to indirect and consensus primaries as he had participated in both ,other that they are in our clime”corrupt means of candidate selection, amenable to fraud and electoral corruption; as well as a rape on voters as an unwanted and unpopular candidate can be foisted on the electorate”.

Ridwan Fasasi