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APC presidential candidate to emerge through direct primary
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved direct primary for the election to produce the party’s presidential candidate.
The NEC, however, gave states the nod to determine how governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly’s candidates will emerge in their respective areas.

Daily Trust learnt that the decision not to endorse direct primary for all elections might have upset the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was sighted at the APC National Secretariat yesterday.
Tinubu did not attend the meeting since he was not a member of NEC, but his presence was seen as confidence booster to those pushing for direct primaries across board.
Tinubu, who is an advocate of direct primaries, had earlier declared that the Lagos State governorship primary would be done through direct poll where each and every card carrying member would vote.
This had fuelled speculation that Tinubu might not be disposed to second term bid of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
Many APC governors had earlier informed the caucus meeting of the party on Tuesday night that they preferred indirect primaries, citing security implications in their rejection of direct primaries.
Tinubu may stand his ground
A source said with the decision of the NEC allowing state chapters to decide on the method of primaries to adopt, Tinubu might stand his ground on using direct primary in choosing the APC governorship candidate in Lagos State.
Many party faithful in Lagos were silent on the issue last night but it was learnt that the Ambode camp, which felt the insistence of Tinubu on direct primary was to jolt Ambode, is re-strategizing.
Tunde Rahama, Tinubu’s media aide, didn’t respond to our correspondent’s enquiry last night.
The APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was said to have exchanged words with the party’s National Vice Chairman, North East, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, during the NEC meeting. Salihu had told journalists that the north east would adopt indirect primaries, which goes against the wish of Oshiomhole.
The NEC meeting was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other party leaders.
Majority supports indirect primary
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the NEC meeting yesterday, said majority of members supported indirect primaries.
Lalong, however, added that any state that opted for direct primaries must not only secure the support of the majority of the state executive committee of the party but also notify the National Working Committee (NWC) on the option adopted.
He said, “The constitution of the party provides for either direct, indirect or consensus.”
On the resolutions at the NEC meeting, Lalong said the meeting directed the NWC to work on the sequence of election for the primaries based on the comments raised and in line with the provisions of the amended Electoral Act.
The governor, who said the NEC set up a standing committee to look at general funding of the party, added that the NWC was also tasked to come up with acceptable figure for the cost of nomination forms based on views expressed at the meeting.
He said the meeting discussed the guidelines of the election, mode of election, funding and the necessity for unity within the party after the recent gale of defections.
Lalong said the NEC agreed that the defection which had not affected the party negatively had rather further strengthened the party.
When asked if the issue of automatic ticket was discussed, he said, “We discussed that; yes patriotic and loyal members should be rewarded but not necessarily with automatic ticket. We are saying some senators, our senators who are patriotic, who are supposed to be taken away, were all kept in the party. So, all states should look at it and then we will find ways of rewarding them. But election is giving option to everybody to contest election.”
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, in his contribution to the issue of automatic ticket, said “People refer to issue of automatic ticket to governors and legislators. In our party, we have reward system. You surely don’t throw away a loyal party man. You will not punish a loyal party man. We will always support and reward those legislators who were supposed to have been taken away in a deceitful manner but stood by Mr President, with the country, those that are patriotic to this party and this country, surely will be rewarded in one way or the other.”
When asked to comment on how the party would cope with conducting direct primary for presidential election with the logistics amid the ongoing membership registration, Lalong said, “We were given assurance by those doing the exercise. We have started an online registration in the different states now and we now have assurance that in the next two weeks, we should be able to have all the people and of course a register.
APC must get its internal dynamics right – Buhari
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has underscored the need for the APC to get its internal dynamics right and march as a team towards the 2019 general elections.
President Buhari, in his remarks at the first NEC meeting after the National Convention, urged all members to play the game according to the rules as they faced the primaries.
“Let us come out with free, fair, and credible primaries, which will be a precursor to free, fair, and credible general elections next year. Let us shine the light through our primaries, and the rest of the country will find the way.
“Our primaries must be in complete compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the Electoral Act and above all the constitution of our great party, APC,” he also said.
Buhari, who enjoined members to all join hands to move the party forward and take the party to the next level by supporting the NWC, said the current period required unity, harmony and togetherness.
He said despite defections, APC remains in control of the National Assembly


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