On June 9, 2022, all party primaries for the 2023 general election were concluded in line with the timetable and schedule of activities by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. In this issue, Nigerians who spoke to Ijeoma UKAZU and Williams ABAH gave their verdict on the conclusion of the exercises. Excerpts:
BENEDICT PAUL: Well, for me, party primaries, especially the presidential primaries, were more like a jamboree. The scenario was a clear indication that Nigeria has a long way to go in meeting up with the universally acceptable standard of democratic practice. Party delegates were bought by aspirants with a huge amount of money. Most of these delegates were not there to elect the person that will provide good governance.
It was because of the fear of delegates electing wrong aspirants that Nigerians wanted direct primaries to accommodate every card-carrying member of any given political party. It amazes me to see these delegates of various parties, who in their capacity have made names in politics and their professional careers, yet cannot think of ordinary Nigerians suffering on daily basis to put food on their tables.
Unfortunately, anyone selected as delegate only seeks how to negotiate with aspirants; before you know it, dollars and naira start exchanging hands. This fraudulent practice cut across all the party primaries, and has truncated the free and fair process. of the elections. For how long are we going to continue in this direction? Elections in Nigeria is not about individual nobility and character, it is all about what you can offer to buy yourself.
The just concluded presidential primary elections in the two major political parties: APC and PDP, were clear example. There were so many credible aspirants in the other parties, some of them had no money to give delegates, and were not voted. In fact, some of them got zero votes. What this type of politics is portraying to Nigerians, was that if you don’t have money do not venture into politics.
YAKUBU ADEGBE: I have not seen any changes in the entire process. This was what happened in the past that led us to this hardship. I was thinking before the party primaries that the kind of suffering Nigerians are going through would be a measure to elect the right candidates. But it was far from that. Only few parties elected the right candidates, that at least, Nigerians can hope for good governance. But the syndrome of focusing on two major parties, has misled so many electorates, as if we are operating a one-party system.
Since the two major political parties conducted their presidential primaries, the discussion among Nigerians, has been on Atiku Abubakar of PDP, and Ahmed Bola Tinubu of APC. Why should we base our choice on party? We have a credible presidential candidate in APGA, ACCORD party, Labour party and others. But nobody is talking about those smaller parties because they are not ‘money bag parties. Let us not forget in a hurry that the two major political parties have been in power for nearly 24-years. The result of their leadership is the agony Nigerians are going through today.
Whether APC, or PDP, they are all the same. The personalities in the two major parties have been in the system for years now, and nothing much was achieved under their leadership. Nigeria’s economy, as we speak, is at the verge of collapse. Look at. the spate of insecurity in the country, all these happened under their watch.
AHMED WALI: Well, I must say all primaries that took place across Nigeria were free and fair, devoid of the irregularities witnessed in the past. If you are conversant with happenings during the weeks of primaries, you would realise that not many cases of litigations arising from the conducts of the primacies were recorded.
Again, security operatives must be commended for being on their guard. The aspirants too conducted themself in a matured manner. Those who lost the bid showed sportsmanship. The atmosphere was also free of all forms of miscreants and hooligans. We as citizens, cannot force any delegate to vote for somebody they don’t want.
EUCHARIA ANENE: My view about party primaries is that too many contestants were jostling for tickets. As much as it is their fundamental human right, I feel the number was just too much. From news sources, we could see some aspirants complaining and asking why they should pay huge bribes to delegates who will, in the end, vote for the aspirant designated by godfathers.
The most interesting example is the case of the son of the former vice president, Namadi Sambo. Adam Namadi’s office released a statement confirming that he requested that PDP delegates refund his money – N76 million naira, at N2 million per delegate – for the Kaduna North State House of Assembly Constituency ticket.
The argument is simple: To contest, all aspirants pay the party huge nominations fees that are stated up front to be non-refundable. If in addition, an aspirant is asked to pay an unauthorised inducement fee that would guarantee the nomination and the amount is paid, then the expectation is that the ticket will be guaranteed. For me, this is not good for our democracy.
SAMUEL OSHIONE: First of all, primary election is an election by the political parties to nominate their candidates for the general election into public office. Thankfully, the primaries held across board in Nigeria, ended well even though there were pockets of shady movements and deals by some aspirants with bags of money distributed to some delegates.
These political entrepreneurs at all levels of the political system have to make their money and that is why party primaries have become vast arenas of transactional politics. The elections themselves become marred by irregularities because people have invested too much to accept the possibility of losing, hence they go overboard to achieve success during primaries.
TOCHI AGU: The party primaries had a good outcome so far. We could see the political big wigs wrestle for power both legitimately and illegitimately with some inducing delegates with money in a bid to get the party ticket.
Such behaviour for me is a dent on Nigeria’s already battered image. The new practice now is – I give you money and you give me the ticket/position I am seeking for. That is where we are today.
