By Joseph Edegbo
A group, Stakeholders and Aspirants Forum in Kaduna says it has rejected the adoption of the indirect mode of electing candidates for the 2019 general Elections by the State Executive Committee of the party.
The group led by one of the Gubernatorial Aspirants in the State, Jalal Falal told a news conference in Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria on Friday that indirect primaries was prone to manipulate influence of the few and the corruptible practice of vote buying.
It was against this, he said, the forum arrived at the collective decision in favour of Direct Primaries as the ideal mode of nominating the 2019 general election candidates of APC in Kaduna State.
“Already our incorruptible President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the national leadership of the party have, in their wisdom, committed to Direct Primaries. We urge the Kaduna State Governor and the party in the state to be on the same page with them, to have the moral courage not only to do what is right but by taking the path of honour, and shunning such corruptive tendencies of Indirect Primaries in our body polity, but equally important to have the audacity to test their popularity through Direct Primaries.
“Popular candidates need not fear direct engagements with party members and the general electorates,” he said.
According to him, it is an open secret that the APC in Kaduna State has been under the total control of the Governor.
“The bulk of the members of the party including critical stakeholders who have given their all to enthrone APC in Kaduna State have been marginalised and excluded from the mainstream of the affairs of the party.” he said.
Falal stated that if APC would want to retain Kaduna State, it must throw up for election of strong candidates for her Gubernatorial and legislative elections against possibly other strong candidates of the other parties.
“The recent ward, local government and state congresses could rightly be said to be the icing on the cake. Officials of the party were single handedly picked by the Governor and his aides.
“This is the backdrop against which the mass exodus from the Areas to run the affairs of the party by its members has been taking place in the entire 23 Local Government Kaduna State.
“As we speak, the outcome of the so-called congresses is still being contested in the courts of the land. Given these deep rifts in the party, our Forum fails to see how Indirect Primaries can produce candidates with mass-based support.” Jalal, explained.
Jalal added that APC in Kaduna state will be in serious trouble if el-Rufai, is allowed to fly the party’s flag in the next election, saying, “we are not going to allow el-Rufai, to pick the ticket our party, it will mean a serious danger for us. I want to ensure that I take over from the outgoing governor.”
He announced that the stance of the group had already been communicated to the national leadership of the party.