Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State under the aegis of Patriots have asked the party to adopt direct primaries in the June 26 primaries to choose the governorship candidate for the November 6 election.

The APC Patriots argued that judging from the current caretaker status of the party's executive from the wards, local government, state, zonal and national levels, disputations have arisen over the legality and propriety of both the direct and indirect forms of primaries.

The group said being worried about the seeming uncertainty has to suggest a recourse to the direct mode of primaries.

Disclosing further reasons for calling for the adoption of direct primaries, the APC Patriots said in a May 20, 2021 letter to the Chairman, Caretaker Committee and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State" it is our submission that the process be decentralized, such that card bearing party members in each local government area are made to congregate in a designated venue, within such LGA, to vote for Aspirants of their choice.

“To further bestow a stamp of acceptability on the process, the Party could adopt the Option A4 voting method, which would entail party members queuing openly to vote for an Aspirant of their choice.

“For Anambra state, therefore, that would mean 21 voting points, across the 21 LGAs of the state.

“Besides the orderly conduct of the primaries, which a recourse to this suggestion would engender, it would also help eliminate any charge of a compromised outcome. For instance, it is easier for Aspirants and their agents to monitor the process in the 21 LGAs, than they ordinarily would across the 326 electoral wards in the state.

“Additionally, by decentralising the voting process, our Party would be adhering with the Covid-19 protocols, as against having the entire party faithful across the state gather at a particular venue.”

Members of its steering committee are APC’s deputy governorship candidate in the 2017 governorship election in Anambra state, Dozie Ikedife, as Coordinator, Honourables Emeke Nwogbo, Chizor Obidigwe and Afam Ogene; former National Assembly aspirants in 2019, Mike Mbanefo, Ike Chidolue and Chidi Ogbaji; the party's zonal youth leader, Olisaemeka Onyeka, and Barrister Chuks Chinwuba.

A statement by their spokesman, Hon. Victor Ogene, pointed out that they have been in the forefront of ensuring victory for the APC in the November 6, 2021 Anambra governorship election.

Ogene disclosed that part of their strategies include the April 27, 2021 Interactive Session which they held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. He said the event was attended by no less a personality than the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and all the aspirants, ministers, and leading political figures from the South East.

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