Nigerians have applauded the senate for coming up with direct primary
elections for political parties, which they describe as a welcome
development because all voters will be present when the lines are counted. And this will reduce hijacking of electoral materials and
other frauds.
A lawyer in Port Harcourt Eugene Ode says political parties in the country would have to adjust their Constitution to comply with the
order of the Senate for parties to practice direct primaries.
Mr Ode in an interview with our reporters said the Constitution of the
country supercede any party Constitution, which gives the Senate the right to give such an order.
The lawyer further stated that parties must derive their authority from the Constitution. He also said that if there has been constitution amendment to that effect, political parties would equality amend their constitutions to their own Constitutions and party guideline to conform with the Constitution which the National Assembly is about to amend.
Mr Eugene Ode however said that although the direct primaries is more
expensive but it will ensure that the right person get into office.
Adding that there is no cost that is more than bringing a wrong person
to rule a country, that the people should choose who they want to
contest election.
Earlier, the PDP said the Senate’s move will increase the cost of
nomination procedures for political parties and the decision of the
Senate is retrogressive and capable of wiping off all the games
achieved in Nigeria electoral practice since 1999.
He commends the move by the National Assembly to regulate how parties
produce their candidate by way of direct primaries. He said it is a
welcome development and it will allow internal democracy within the
party.
We infer here that with the level of insecurity in the country today,
direct primaries may not be as free as expected because the popular
candidate may be denied victory when the unpopular candidate welds
hoodlums to disrupt the process. On many occasions, direct elections
ended up in physical fights and elections cancelled.
Therefore, it may be anyone’s argument that the functionality or
otherwise of direct party primaries is largely dependent on the party
electoral officials who may be more committed to give the party a fair
and free election or in such a corrupt environment where the party’s
result would be determined and announced before the election proper.
