Chief Ralph Nwosu, the National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), has faulted the direct primary clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021.
Nwosu,, speaking on Tuesday in Lagos with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the clause as a misnomer and an overshoot by the National Assembly.
He said while direct primary selection process is good and one might not fault the proponents of such piece of legislation, it is, however, wrong to legislate how a political party should conduct its candidates’ selection process.
“Parties should be allowed to develop what works best for them. Direct primary might be one of the ways to establish and deepen democratic culture within the party and the wider ecosystem.
“However, it is not for members of other political parties in parliament to decide for the rest of the parties and all political parties how to conduct their internal processes.
“I don’t think the job of creating party characters, identity and models belong to the legislature.
“Parties are different. It is a misnomer for the National Assembly to legislate for parties how to run their own affairs,” Nwosu said.
Nwosu also noted that while some might argue that direct primaries would afford all the members of a political party the chance to participate in the process of selecting their flag-bearers, the clause did not allow party uniqueness.
“One party is different from the other. Leaders of parties should design their own unique processes so long as they are in line with the constitution of the land and acceptable to its members.
“The way parties conduct such affairs may be part of their strategies for winning and successes.
“So, the National Assembly should not straight jacket parties,” he added.
Nwosu said that ADC had a memorandum of understanding with youth and women groups in the selection of its flag-bearers.
The ADC chieftain added: “Legislating on the type or nature of primary is the least of our problem as a nation.
“The other features of the proposed amendment like the electronic transmission of result from the polling stations are quality elements that will impact the credibility of our elections.
“Bills aimed at improving transparency and credibility of processes are what our lawmakers and all elected leaders should be interested in improving.”
He said that the legislators should bother themselves with inter-party processes and not intra-party mechanisms.
Nwosu added that the ADC is also mindful of expenses of conducting direct primary election.
(NAN)