PDP cautions against imposition of direct primary by ruling Party in Electoral Act Amendment

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has protested the plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose direct primary, which is the primary idea of the ruling party, on other political parties in Nigeria. the PDP in a statement in Abuja, indicated expressed strong opposition to the passage of the harmonised Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which among other things, provided for direct primaries for nomination of candidates for elections by political parties.

The party argued that it is the inalienable right of each political party, within the context of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, to decide its form of internal democratic practices, including the processes of nominating its candidates for elections at any level.

The PDP in the statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, declared that the party believes that no political party should force its own processes on any other political party, arguing: “as the direct primaries amendment, a practice of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sought to achieve”.

The PDP disclosed that the party shall, within the next 48 hours, make its final decision in respect of the amendment known to the public.

The Senate and the House of Representatives, passing a harmonized version of the 2010 Electoral Act (amendment) Bill, 2021, after adopting the report of their joint Conference Committee on Tuesday, had made it compulsory for all parties in the country to nominate candidates through direct primary election. this is being challenged by the PDP.