The crisis over the mode of primary to be adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to select candidates for the 2019 general elections might soon be resolved, as the party’s National Working Committee (NEC), appeared to have finally bowed to pressure from governors to conduct indirect primaries.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, after a crucial meeting between party leaders and governors elected on the party’s platform, the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole announced that they have agreed on indirect primaries in states.

Corroborating the national chairman, Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, said: “We met with the chairman and we have resolved that in support of the party that we are going to have free and fair primaries. Everybody will be given equal chance to participate in the primaries which will be transparent, free and fair. We have adopted both direct and indirect and most of the states are going for indirect primaries, but for the president, it is going to be direct primaries.

“So, we have all resolved to assure Nigerians that we are ready for the primaries and we are ready for the main election as decided by NEC and we are sure that come 2019, APC shall have the victory. We are calling on all our supporters to support the party. The 22 governors and the NEC are working together and we have resolved to make sure that we get victory for the party come 2019.”

On the acrimonies in many states like Kaduna and Zamfara, Okorocha said: “Like the NEC made it clear that the parties will decide at every state level whether they want either direct or indirect primaries. Normally, you would know that our party is even a peaceful party.

“It is the most peaceful party in Nigeria right now where there are no skirmishes and scuffles. If you are looking at other parties, you would know there is no peace at all. So, these minor complains here and there is expected because even in a family you have it. The NEC has declared that we are going to have direct and indirect primaries and the party at the state level will decide what type of primary to adopt,” he said.

Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, added: “There is no way 100 per cent of the party will agree to one thing. There will always be some that will disagree, but the decision of NEC is that the majority of the state Executive Committee decides on the mode of primaries.”

•Excerpted from a Daily Sun report

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