Gov Yahaya Bello defends imposition of direct primaries in Electoral Act Amendment  Bill

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has defended the imposition of direct primaries by the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Electoral Act being amended by the National Assembly. Some stakeholders had accused governors of the 36 states of the federation of using parties primaries to determine who gets party tickets for elections.

Governor Bello, however,   stated that governors are not afraid of direct primaries, disputing insinuations that some governors determine the political opportunities of federal lawmakers in their states.

The Kogi governor said it is false that governors give out election tickets to party members for the National Assembly.

Governor Bello emphasized that laws should not be made in Nigeria for the immediate, but for future development. He insisted that political parties are responsible for election tickets being given to party members.

According to Bello: “We as governors, I don’t think anybody is afraid of direct primaries. No governor, not APC, PDP, or APGA – At least these are the parties that we have today.

“I will always caution that whenever we are making laws or taking decisions, we shouldn’t be basing it on the impulse of the moment.”

Governor Bello admitted directing the APC in Kogi State as the Kogi APC leader, but maintained that the APC is responsible for the giving of tickets for National Assembly and pother elections. He dissociated himself from the exercise of such power.

The Senate had on Tuesday endorsed the report of the conference committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The report was presented by the Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, at plenary on Tuesday.