Ekiti State Governor and Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s position on the Electoral Amendment Bill was commendable.
Speaking with journalists after meeting with the president at the State House, Abuja, Fayemi said the president’s position gives room for democratic right to choices.
“Mr President has not objected to direct primaries, neither has he endorsed indirect primaries, he has only said, be fair to all, let all options apply and what you decide should be determined by your own local and peculiar circumstances; being mindful of questions of security, finances, and internal democracy.
“So I think we all should commend the courage of Mr president to stand with the people,” he noted.
He said it was wrong for people to insinuate that the governors are happy with the development, adding that his colleagues are only concern for the well being of Nigerians.
He said, “At least as the governor who has gone through a series of elections. My election to office during my first term was via a direct primary that took place in all the 177 wards in my state. And my election to my second term in office was via an indirect primary. So I’ve tested both. And I can tell you that it really doesn’t matter to any governor whether you have primaries via direct mode or an indirect mode.
“What is the governors’ interest and concern is that opportunities are given for an inclusive process. And I think that is what Mr President’s letter has brought out. Mr President has not objected to direct primaries,
neither has he endorsed indirect primaries, he has only said, be fair to all, let all options apply and what you decide should be determined by your own local and peculiar circumstances. Being mindful of questions of security, finances, and internal democracy. So I think we all should commend the courage of Mr president to stand with the people.
“And the President, you know, just like me, is not afraid of whatever mode you decide to use. When I chaired the primaries, the historic primaries that brought him in as a presidential candidate, I was the chair of that primaries in 2014. It was an indirect primary. But in 2019, when he was coming back, he came back via a direct primary. So Mr President has also tasted both. And I don’t think it’s somebody to be lectured about the pros and cons of either process.
“What is important is to ensure that whatever process you choose in your particular circumstance, still provides a process that is as free a manner as possible. It’s not completely free process, but at least there is something that is called substantial compliance in electoral law. And if it meets substantial compliance, I think all of us should be happy with that we shouldn’t really dwell too much on there’s been this exaggerated expectation that direct primaries is going to provide all answers to whatever electoral challenges that we have faced. And we all know that that is false direct primaries has its own challenges indirect primaries has its own challenges. A consensus approach is also not without challenges, but options should be provided. That’s all I think, Mr President has said and whether governors are happy or not, it’s really material to government, whether it’s direct or indirect.”
