A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Omoshola Omoshebi has warned that the party might lose the October 10, 2020, gubernatorial election in Ondo State if the party insists on the indirect mode of primary in selecting the party’s flagbearer.
He made this call in an exclusive interview with The New Diplomat against the backdrop of the controversies and protests that have greeted the decision of the APC to adopt the indirect mode of primary for the gubernatorial election in the state.
This decision has not gone down well with Omoshebi who has posited that adopting the indirect mode of primary is undemocratic and will give room for manipulations that is capable of derailing the democratic process and consequently lead to the party losing the election.
Read also: APC Dissolves NWC, Appoints Caretaker Committee Chairman
“By adopting an indirect mode of primary our great party stands the risk of losing the election. People should be given the liberty to choose their preferred candidate in an open, free, and fair manner which is what the direct mode of primary provides. Adopting an indirect mode of primary will give room for manipulations which is undemocratic” he posited.
Read also: Akpabio Vs Nunieh: We’ll Protect Our Daughter From Harm, Says Rivers Govt
He further said that the Direct Mode of Primary be adopted in choosing the party’ candidate.
“I am appealing to our party’s hierarchy to have a rethink and adopt the Direct Primary mode as was the case in Osun, Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun States, why should Ondo State’s case be different? Direct primary provides level playing ground for all aspirants and therefore promotes fairness, equity, and justice, anything different from that given the prevailing mood and circumstances in the state is hazardous and can result in litigation which will not help our party” he added.
Recall that eleven out of the twelve aspirants seeking the governorship ticket of the APC in the state have rejected the indirect mode of primary adopted for the July 20 primary.
In a letter signed by the governorship aspirants and addressed to the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, in Abuja, the aspirants requested the party to adopt direct primary for the nomination of its governorship flag bearer.
Omoshebi has now added his voice to the call for the adoption of the direct mode of primary in the state