No imposition of candidates in Ondo APC — Rep

A member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Mr Derin Adesida, has expressed confidence that the forthcoming primaries of the All Progressives Congress will not give room for any form of imposition of candidates, whether through consensus or direct primary.

Adesida, who represents the Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, said both modes of primary are acceptable, noting that they are designed to produce the most popular aspirants as party candidates for the general election.

The federal lawmaker stated this in Akure, the state capital, on Friday while speaking with journalists after obtaining his expression of interest and nomination forms ahead of the party’s primaries scheduled for later this month.

He said, “I have no fear about the two modes of primary, either consensus or direct primary. Consensus works when everybody agrees. But if only one person dissents, just one person, then it cannot work. That means there can be no consensus. In a direct primary, every card-carrying member of the party is involved.

“We made the law. So we have no choice. I’m part of the system that enacted the law that was signed by Mr President. Even in the United States and some other advanced countries, they do direct primaries. It’s like a general election. In the US, for example, everybody goes to the polls, especially party members. They call them delegates, and they vote for whoever will represent them. So I think it is better than the previous delegates system.

“In direct primary, everybody in the party will come out. You can’t even bribe anyone. You don’t know who is coming, so you present yourself to the people for them to choose. If you are popular, you are elected. So imposition of candidates won’t be possible.”

The second-term member of the National Assembly said the forms were purchased for him by some beneficiaries of his representation, adding that he was initially not enthusiastic about returning to the House for a third term, but was encouraged by constituents in his federal constituency.

“I’m really happy because this came as a surprise to me. About three days ago, I was planning to go and pick up and pay for the forms myself, but one of them, a very senior officer in the Nigeria Customs Service, called me. He said they were working on purchasing the forms and that they would present it to me later that day or the following day. So I was surprised.

“This is an encouragement to me because initially I wasn’t enthusiastic about contesting again. I thought I had done my part, but with this, I’m ready to continue working for my people,” Adesida said.

As the APC prepares for its primaries for the National Assembly and State Assembly elections (while the governorship election in Ondo State remains off-cycle), there are indications that the party may adopt the direct primary system in the state.

All aspirants for National and State Assembly seats have already obtained their forms and have begun house-to-house consultations to seek support from party members in their constituencies.

However, the APC has yet to officially announce the mode of primary to be adopted for the forthcoming exercise.