Delta APC Unanimously Adopts Indirect Primaries Amid Controversy

The State Executive Committee (SEC) and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State on Friday unanimously adopted the delegates voting system of indirect primaries for the party’s governorship, senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly primaries in the state.

The decision was reached at a large meeting of the SEC and the stakeholders at the party’s state secretariat in Asaba.

In a statement issued by the party and jointly signed by Prophet Jones Ode Erue and Comrade Chidi Okonji, in their respective capacities as the State Chairman and State Secretary of Delta State APC, the SEC stated that, “The Delta State APC’s unanimous resolution today adopting indirect primaries is reasoned, responsible and absolutely necessary.”

The SEC further noted that, “The indirect primaries system is a necessity in Delta State due to some unique conditions. First is the absence of up to date registers that is trusted by majority of our stakeholders for the purpose of credible direct primaries. SEC agrees with our leaders and stakeholders that in the manifest absence of up to date, clean or credible registers, the system of indirect primaries is necessary.

Indeed, SEC agrees with our party’s leaders and stakeholders that we do not have the luxury of time to collate and clean up our ongoing massive membership registrations before the primaries. It is our reasoned position that we must avoid any self-inflicted chaos that may likely arise from excluding so many newly registered members because of the obvious lack of sufficient time to collate and clean up the ongoing registrations.”

The Delta State SEC also raised security concerns to support its adoption of indirect primaries.

The press statement notes that, “Significantly, SEC is very disturbed about intelligence reports from Stakeholders that strange elements may be infiltrating our current membership registration with ulterior motives to taint the credibility of possible direct primaries by all means, including deadly security breaches that may harm our members and our positive electoral chances.

These reports remind us of how persons with similar ulterior motives invaded our elective Ward and Local Government congresses in May this year, killed our Comrade Jeremiah Oghoveta in Ughelli South and grievously harmed so many of our leaders and members.”

The party also said that its adoption of indirect primaries is to “deny the desires and designs many of private individuals who, pretending to be officials of the Delta APC, engaged in unauthorized and fraudulent membership registrations.”

Present at the meeting were many leaders and stakeholders of the party, including all members of the State Working Committee and Chairmen and Secretaries of the party in the 25 local councils of Delta. Leaders in attendance include Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Chief Frank Kokori, Rt. Hon. Halims Agoda, Dr. Ike Odikpo, Chief Charles Uwaechie, and Professor Pat Utomi.