Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday adopted indirect primaries as a mode of electing party’s candidates where consensus arrangement fails, apparently to douse tension and crisis which trailed the last exercise.
On September 5, the party adopted consensus arrangement/direct primaries and subsequently picked consensus candidates for all elective positions in the state, a development which has nearly torn the ruling party in the state apart.
However, at an expanded State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting of APC on Thursday in Abeokuta, the party reversed its earlier decision and adopted indirect primaries.
Outgoing Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who is a beneficiary of consensus arrangement as Ogun Central candidate, was represented at the meeting by his Deputy, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga.
Out of 111 members present at the SEC meeting, 109 unanimously adopted the review following a motion moved by APC Chairman, Sagamu Local Government, Segun Solarin and seconded former Ogun Assembly Speaker, Bolanle Gbeleyi.
With the review, Ogun APC now adopts consensus arrangement, but where it fails, the party will go for indirect primaries, the State APC Chairman, Derin Adebiyi said in a communique issued after the meeting.
Adebiyi explained the review becomes necessary because of some “stringent conditions which may scuttle successful direct primaries.”
The National Financial Secretary of APC, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello who was at the meeting agreed that direct primaries was no longer feasible.
While admitting that the aborted direct primaries has created crisis in the party, Adebiyi added that the review “was done for peace and harmony in the party.”
Adebiyi said “5 days to primary elections, updated membership register from across wards of the state has not been availed the state chapter by national headquarters.
“That all the prerequisites for a credible, successful and violence free primary elections are absent.
“That the prevailing confusion has created opportunity for members of the opposition, unscrupulous elements and strange bedfellows to infiltrate the rank and file of genuine party members in the state.”
The Deputy Governor, Yetunde Onanuga who was at the meeting commended the party for the review, saying the step will further unite the party.
