By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. The evolution of the Political Parties Primary elections has been an issue since its inception in 1979 when NPN has many Presidential aspirants which see’s Shehu Shagari as Presidential Candidate.
Not much of Primaries took place during the second Republic before candidates of the other parties like : chief Obafemi Awolowo of Unity Party of Nigeria UPN ,Dr. Nmdi Azikiwe Nigerian Peoples People’s Party NPP, Waziri Ibrahim of Greater Nigerian People’s Party GNPP and Mallam Aminu Kano of People’s Redemption Party.
To all these Candidates the Presidential ticket was automatic as they are the founders of their respective Political Parties.
The method of open ballot system tagged option A4 was designed by the electoral body then National Electoral Commission .
During the third Republic ,the process of chosen Candidates climaxed with Primary election of the National Republic Conventions NRC and Social Democratic Party SDP was a momentous events that produce Alhaji Bashir Osman Tofa as NRC Presidential Candidates and Chief MKO Abiola as SDP flag bearer.
Political Parties Primary Elections in Nigeria ahead of 2023
The Primary Election of APC as ruling Party could not hold as scheduled due to much interest from different cliques of the Party and President Muhammad Buhari’s body language and recent statement ,which said, he
should be allowed to choose his successor as Governor’s deed in their respective States.
APC slated 7th of June to conduct its Primaries
According a Source close to APC Governors which Pleaded for anonymity said the ruling Party Governors insisted that the APC Presidential Candidate must be from them.
On the other hand PDP as the main Opposition Party has Conducted it’s Primary election as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged the flag bear of the Party.
Even though there are much Corruption allegation against the Aspirants and Delegates that participated in the election Process.
Other Political Parties like New Nigeria People’s Party under which former Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso is Contesting has a Single Candidate ,and the Party set aside June 8th as it’s date to hold Congress for the affirmation of the Presidential Candidate as required by Nigerian electoral act.
Peter Obi who was the running mate of Atiku Abubakar under PDP during the 2019 Presidential Elections decamped to Labour Party and now it’s Presidential flag bear after the Primary election conducted by the Party.
Ibrahim Garba Maryam is a Political Analyst and anti corruption Crusader in Nigeria.
He said the Primary Elections Conducted by Political Parties in Nigeria is characterize with high level of Corruption.
Garba decried over the amount of Money shared to delegates during Governortorial and Presidential Primaries especially that of PDP and APC in different States.
The Activist described the situation as must unfortunate, as some Candidates that failed to get their Political Parties ticket requested for the refund of their Money given to Delegates.
He also said Buhari’s statement on allowing him to choose his successor is undemocratic .
“If such is the case why his Party APC sold forms at the high cost of One Hundred Million Naira.”
I G Maryam Causion the Statement and tagged it successors instead of Candidate ,he also added that it put fear in to the hearts of electorates , since the sitting President is talking of a successor before Conducting Primaries and Secondary election elections.
Ibrahim Garba charged the Independent National electoral Commission to put more pressure on Political Parties to do right things when Conducting Primary elections.
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