After both the Senate and House of Representatives agreed last week on party direct primaries in contrast to state governors’ opposition, the question was which way would President Muhammadu Buhari go. Well, now we know from closer quarters. The President will ‘vote’ direct.
House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who spoke with State House correspondents in Abuja after meeting with the President, said Buhari supported direct primary election. He described the President as “a product of direct primary” because of his popularity, saying that he has opened up the political space for the youths to participate. He noted that indirect primaries have not helped the growth of democracy.
Gbajabiamila said, “If I tell you we didn’t discuss the Electoral Act amendment, which is what I am sure you are asking about, if I tell you we didn’t discuss that I would be lying to you. We had a very robust discussion and our position is known to the President.”
Asked what that position was, he asked back, “Are you not aware that the National Assembly has passed the direct primary elections and electronic transmission of election results? That is the position of the National Assembly. It has passed through both Houses. We have passed the (draft) law. The official position of House of Representatives and the Senate, we are for direct primary. We are for empowering the people at the grassroots level. Let everybody participate in governance. Democracy is defined as a government of the people for the people and by the people. ‘People’ is used three times in that definition. And it doesn’t start from general elections. It starts from primaries. So, we have made it very abundantly clear.”
Gbajabiamila defended the direct primary election option, saying, “It (indirect primary) has been like that for a long time and it’s not helping our democracy. It is not growing and deepening our democracy. We have passed Not Too Young To Run Bill, which the President was very happy to be a part of because he wants to encourage young people. But it’s just a bill on paper.
“You pass Not Too Young To Run Bill, but at the same time, you close the space for the young ones for whom you have passed Not Too Young To Run Bill. You have continued with your indirect primaries. How will the young people get involved? Now, they have a chance with the direct primaries. You have opened up the space and they can get in and mobilise themselves and if they are popular enough, they win the election. They are not dependent on any godfather”.
Gbajabiamila disagreed with Benue State’s governor, Samuel Ortom, who said that direct primary elections would be too expensive for political parties and the electoral commission to handle.The House Speaker said. “I have heard that argument about cost. And this is what I have to say: do you put a price tag on democracy? I don’t think you should. What is too much and what is too little to buy freedom and democracy? I don’t think you should put a price tag on it. So, how much will be okay for him? He should tell us how much will be okay for him.”
On the allegation that members of the National Assembly were fighting because they had been edged out by governors, he said: “The indirect primary is easier for me, at least, as far as my constituency is concerned. But, because I don’t want to be selfish, because I want to look at the bigger picture, I will rather go with direct primaries. Let everybody go and vote. If they vote me out, they vote me out. It is as simple as that.”
It is clear why governors are opposed to direct primaries. Their reason that they are too expensive doesn’t hold water at all. What they are not saying is that they fear that they will lose their grip on their parties and the electoral process because they sit on a huge war chest. This vital financial resource enables them to pick the bulk of delegates going for primaries. It also helps to buy the votes of some delegates.
The governors are sensing defeat already. President Buhari’s expected assent to the passed Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill 2021 will put the final nail on their political coffin.
