As Nigerians await assent to the bill by President Buhari, Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said he is ready for any mode of primary election signed in the electoral law.
He stated this at The Convergence 3.0 while addressing over 200 young aspirants vying for different political offices.
The governor also said state governors are not at loggerheads with senators over mode of party primaries, adding that it was a wrong notion and a twist of the narrative.
“It really doesn’t matter, direct or indirect. It was wrong for the media to twist the narrative and say governors are fighting senators over direct or indirect primaries. I came in through indirect primaries. So it really doesn’t matter. Indirect primaries cost a lot of money but direct primaries are just about delegates.
“For the youth who are coming into politics, it may be better to have an indirect system because your chances are better. But don’t forget that the voters who are registered members of the party are canvassing too for people who have been placed in the party register by others.
“…At the end of the day, it is easier to manipulate delegates in indirect primaries which is to say you can take delegates to a hotel, keep them there until the day of the election, then you bring them out and ask them to vote for you and everybody disperses but in direct election, I’ll be here in Lagos and people will be voting in Badagry, Epe, and I’m not there to influence anyone. It is my agents that will try to influence them.”
The Convergence 3.0 is an initiative of Yiaga Africa and the Not Too Young to Run movement. It aims at empowering young candidates with requisite tools for running effective political campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections.
