……Speaks on Ondo APC primary outcome
A former Presidential Aspirant l, Dr Thomas -Wilson Ikubese has charged the National Assembly to enact a law that will compel political parties in Nigeria to adopt Direct Mode of Primaries in electing candidates for various elections into public offices.
Similarly, Ikubese advocated electronic voting both at the primary and general election levels to prevent possible challenges associated with manual method of voting.
Speaking on Saturday on “Stand Point” programme on TVC, the Medical Director of Sckye Hospitals, said all political parties in Nigeria should start thinking of adopting direct mode of primaries that gives room for participatory electoral process.
He declared that such step would also curb Imposition of candidate and vote buying.
The Convener of YesWeFit Revolutionary Movement, commended the leadership of the All Progressive Congress for adopting direct Primary in the Governorship primary in Ondo State, saying that he has always agitated for direct primaries among political parties in Nigeria.
“The Convener of YesWeFit further said direct Primary allow all party members to elect candidates of their choices which is far better than indirect where handful delegates vote on behalf of the generality of the party.
”Direct Primary provides opportunities for card carrying members of any party to vote; this simply means their voices are heard and vote will count. I am satisfied with the ruling APC for opting for direct primary among others method allows by the Electoral Act”.
He added that the method prevent political gladiators from corrupting the process where handful delegates will be financially induced to vote for the highest bidders.
”When you have direct Primary, voting takes place in all the wards. In Ondo State, voting held in all the 203 wards. How many party members were camped in an hotel or induce to vote?
Ikubese urged the National Assembly to make laws that will mandate all political parties in Nigeria to adopt direct mode of primary while conducting internal elections, noting that it would be very difficult to coarse people to vote against their conscience.
Ikubese pointed out that electronic voting both at the primary and general election levels would prevent challenges associated with manual method of voting in the country.
”Electronic voting is the way to go if we want to have credible electoral process both at the primary and general election. The Electoral Body can link our BVN or NIN to the technology created for that purpose.”
The former Presidential Aspirant asked the leadership of the APC to look into the agitations by some governorship aspirants in the just concluded primary election in Ondo State provided they have evidences to back up their claims.
“The complain by aspirants in the just concluded primary election of the ruling APC in Ondo State would have been totally eliminated if the Party adopted electronic voting rather the manual accreditation and revalidation”.
He noted that Nigeria is losing billions of Naira by shutting down the country’s economy during election saying if electronic system of voting is adopted, it will prevent closing of businesses across the country.
