APC adopts indirect primary for senatorial, governorship tickets

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted indirect primary for all elective positions apart from the presidential election.

The decision was taken at the 6th national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja on Thursday.

Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state, told reporters that states may consider direct primary when the need rises.

WHAT IS INDIRECT PRIMARY?

• Indirect primary election is when delegates choose the party’s candidate as against when interested members of the party vote for a candidate in direct primary.

The issue of the primary had left stakeholders of the party divided, with some influential members threatening to pull out of the ruling party if it adopts indirect primary.

Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the APC, had hinted that a decision would be taken on direct or indirect primary at the NEC meeting.

He gave the hint after a caucus meeting of the party at the presidential villa on Tuesday.

“By Thursday (today) we will go to NEC where the formal decisions will be ratified and once they are ratified there will be no problem; they are not being kept (secret) because every member of the party and indeed Nigerians are entitled to know how we agreed about the exercise.

“But I think everybody has confidence that we will do a very credible primaries to ensure that those who fly the flag of the party have the mandate of their various constituencies.”