A senior lecturer at Anambra State University, Dr Chubah Ezeh, has said that the parallel primaries in most political parties is an indication that “democracy is unsafe in the country’’.
Ezeh, a lecturer in Political Science Department, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha on Wednesday.
He expressed regrets that the principle of internal democracy, which was the tap root of democracy, was lacking in the political parties.
“With the latest developments in most political parties, it is clear that our democracy is unsafe and a disappointment that most political parties are unable to conduct peaceful, free, fair and credible primaries among its members.
“It indicates that the principle of internal democracy needed for a robust mass participation in election is yet to be imbibed and internalised by parties’ faithful.
“Even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rules and the Electoral Act are not helping matters; with a lot of loopholes for people to manipulate a clear cut process.
“And today, every kitchen can cook up a primary result and continue to brandish it and shout it in the streets and in the media,’’ he said.
The lecturer stressed the need for reorientation of politicians, especially card-carrying members of political parties to abide by party, INEC and Electoral Act rules.
“If the latest developments could happen at the state level of most parties, where members see themselves as belonging to one family, with related and harmonised objectives.
“What will then happen to the larger political terrain at the inter-party level or national platform, where people come from various socio-political and environmental backgrounds and alignments,’’ he queried.
NAN
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