The ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted the direct mode of primary ahead of Saturday’s conduct of its governorship primary election in Kogi State.
The party reportedly announced an indirect primary, based on the request of the State Working Committee (SWC).
But it reversed this, following protests by aspirants and party stakeholders who faulted the delegates’ list forwarded to the party’s national headquarters, alleging that the process for compiling the list was questionable.
Ahead of the shadow election, The Nation gathered that the party, after considering the various petitions and after wide consultations, adopted the direct mode of election.
It was also learnt that the party has since informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the 17 aspirants of its decision to adopt the direct primary mode.
Its Acting National Chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari, conveyed the decision to the electoral umpire via a letter dated April 6, 2023.
The letter reads,
“We refer to our earlier letter, dated January 25, 2023, with reference no: APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/023/191, wherein we notified the commission of the mode of the primary election for the conduct of the governorship Primary Election in Kogi State.
“However, our great party, the APC, has reviewed the modalities for the conduct of the governorship primary election in Kogi State and has, therefore, resorted to adopting the direct mode of the primary election instead of the indirect mode as earlier communicated.
“The date for the conduct of the primary election remains Friday, April 14, 2023.
“Following the above, there shall be a special congress to ratify the candidate with the highest number of votes at the governorship primary election in Kogi State scheduled for Saturday, April 15, 2023.”
Also, the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday voided the ward and local government congresses purportedly conducted on February 7 by the APC in Kogi State to nominate its governorship candidate for the November governorship election in the state.
Justice James Omotosho held that there was no evidence before the court to show that Kogi APC conducted valid ward and local government congresses in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, and the party’s constitution.
The judge directed the party to conduct valid special ward and local government congresses to elect delegates who will elect the party’s candidate for the governorship election, failing which it may not have a candidate for the election.
Alternatively, Justice Omotosho said the APC in Kogi could opt for any other mode of electing its candidate for the election, should it decide not to conduct valid special ward and local government congresses as ordered by the court.
The party’s direct primary decision thus complies with the second option.
The judgment was on a suit filed by Realwan Okpanachi, Yahaya Saidu Nuhu, Omaonu Clement Arome, Mustapha Ibrahim Idoko, Aku Umar Goodman and Abu Steven Okpanachi Onechiojo.
APC and the INEC are the defendants.
