The All Progressives Congress, APC, Enugu State and aspirants for various elective positions in the 2019 general election under the party’s platform have endorsed the indirect and consensus mode of primaries.
The position was earlier adopted by the state working committee (SWC) of the party.
The decision was taken on Tuesday during a meeting with aspirants, leaders and other stakeholders of the party in the state.
In attendance were immediate past governor of Enugu state, Barr. Sullivan Chime, ex- military Governor of Gombe state and House of Reps aspirant, Group Captain Joe Oji, new entrant, Senator Ayogu Eze, Director – General of Voice of Nigeria VON, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, a member of APC board of trustee, General Josef Okoloagu, (Rtd), major financier of the party nationwide, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, former member of federal House representatives, KGB Oguakwa, business mogul, Everest Nnaji, aspirants, among others.
The state SWC led by Dr. Ben Nwoye, had few weeks ago adopted the indirect and consensus mode after its meeting at the party secretariat, a decision that was countered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Goeffery Onyeama, during a selected stakeholders’ meeting he convened in Enugu, advocating for direct primaries.
Onyeama’s position, generated mixed reactions, as majority of the stakeholders aligned themselves with the SWC’s position, even as the state chairman, Dr. Nwoye, insisted that the Minister do not have the constitutional power to convene such meeting, or take decision on any critical issue affecting the party on behalf of members.
Dr. Nwoye, had while briefing the caucus and aspirants on the guideline and preparations for the forthcoming primaries, as well as reason why the SWC settled for indirect or consensus, described those against the mode as enemies of the party, who don’t have its interest at heart.
The chairman, explained that the direct primaries as being advocated by the Minister was capital intensive and cumbersome, insisting that the state do not have the financial capacity to go for the mode which according to him, would gulp about 400 million naira.
Nwoye said: “indirect primaries will be more cheaper and easier, when compared to the direct which will require so much logistics.”
Announcing position of the caucus to newsmen after the meeting, chairman of the occasion and former Governor of old Anambra state, Dr. Jim Nwobodo, represented by immediate past governor of Enugu state, Sullivan Chime, said the explanation of the SWC was quite understandable and reasonable hence the need for the adoption.
Before the meeting endorsed the indirect mode, the chairman had earlier, put it to voice vote and members present responded in the affirmative.
Nwobodo, who maintained that Enugu APC has no faction, said the only duly and legitimately elected state chairman of the party known to all is Dr. Ben Nwoye, just as he urged the executive committee in the state to ensure that it put in place an electoral process that will throw up credible candidates that had the capacity to win elections in 2019.
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