President Muhammadu Buhari is in support of the direct primary clause in the Electoral Act Bill.
According to The Nation, House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said the President is in support of the direct mode of selecting candidates for elections by political parties.
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The National Assembly also disclosed plans to forward the Electoral Act Bill to the President this week for assent.
Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) applauded the Parliament for the retention of the clause said it will foster great participation of members in party affairs.
You recall RainSMediaRadio reported, some governors are in disagreement with the National Assembly over the direct primary clause in the Electoral Act Bill.
While the Senate and the House of Representatives retained direct primary in the Electoral Act Bill, the governors are insisting on the indirect primary.
APC governors under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) declined to react to the Speaker’s statement.
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The Director-General of the Forum, Dr. Salihu Lukman, said APC governors will not react to mere visits by any leader of the National Assembly to the Presidential Villa over the bill.
Speaking with reporters in Abuja, Gbajabiamila after a meeting with Buhari disclosed that the President supported the direct primary adding that the intention is to provide political space for Nigerian youth to participate in politics.
He also said indirect primary has not helped the growth of democracy in the country assuring that the President would sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
Gbajabiamila said: “If I tell you we didn’t discuss the Electoral Act amendment, which is what I am sure you are asking about, if I tell you we didn’t discuss that, I will be lying to you.
“We had a very robust discussion and our position is known to the President.”
On the position of the National Assembly, Gbajabiamila added: “Are you not aware that the National Assembly has passed the direct primary and electronic transmission of election results? That is the position of the National Assembly. It has passed through both Houses.
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“We have passed the law. The official position of House of Representatives and the Senate, we are for direct primary. We are for empowering the people at the grassroots level. Let everybody participate in governance.
“Democracy is defined as a government of the people, for the people and by the people. ‘People’ is used three times in that definition. And it doesn’t start from general elections. It starts from primaries. So, we have made it very clear abundantly.”
Gbajabiamila defended the direct primary, saying: “It (indirect primary) has been like that for a long time and it’s not helping our democracy. It is not growing and deepening our democracy.
“We have passed Not Too Young To Run Bill, which the President was very happy to be a part of because he wants to encourage young people. But it’s just a bill on paper.
“You pass Not Too Young To Run Bill, but at the same time, you close the space for the young ones for whom you have passed Not Too Young To Run Bill.
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“You have continued with your indirect primaries. How will the young people get involved? Now, they have a chance with the direct primaries.
“You have opened up the space and they can get in and mobilise themselves and if they are popular enough, they win the election. They are not dependent on any godfather”.
Meanwhile the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom had said the direct primary would be too expensive to run for political parties and the electoral commission to handle, Gbajabiamila in response said: “I have heard that argument about cost. And this is what I have to say: do you put a price tag on democracy? I don’t think you should.
“What is too much and what is too little to buy freedom and democracy? I don’t think you should put a price tag on it. So, how much will be okay for him? He should tell us how much will be okay for him.”
On the allegation that members of the National Assembly were fighting, because they had been edged out by governors, he said: “The indirect primary is easier for me, at least, as far as my constituency is concerned. But, because I don’t want to be selfish, because I want to look at the bigger picture, I will rather go with direct primaries. Let everybody go and vote. If they vote me out, they vote me out. It is as simple as that.”
On whether the Bill had been transmitted to the President, the Speaker said: “It’s on the way. You can be sure of that. We get the bill transmitted now that he is back very soon. We are hopeful it will become law and Nigerians will be better for it.”
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