Direct Primary: Is it APC’s tactics to outcast West from Osun 2018 governorship election?

In the last three days, the National Working Committee and State Working Committee have shifted their attention to Osun State where another governorship election will be held, after achieving the needed victory in Ekiti State, this year. Members of the party in Osun state are expected to elect one candidate that will slug it out with the People’s Democratic Party, the main opposition party in the state.

Since last year, youths, party chieftains and electorate in the West region of the state have been pushing for a candidate from the region, citing marginalization of the zone over the years. The youths in the party and the region believe that indirect primary will help in attaining their aspiration. It, however, appears that this believe has been dashed as the NWC of the party opted for direct primary.

"We have resolved that the governorship election in Osun State will be conducted on the basis of direct primary, which means every card carrying members of our party will participate in the process of nominating the flagbearer of the party who will contest governorship election on our party's platform," Adams Oshiomhole, the Chair of the party  said recently.  

According to him, the process will enable the card-carrying members of the party to have a say and participate in the selection of the candidate will fly the party's flag, instead of the few delegates to determine the selection.

Despite the assurance of the party that the new option will make the process to be free, fair and credible, some members of the party believe that the NWC and SWC are acting script for a preferred candidate not for the interest of the West region, calling for the removal of the state chairman, Gboyega Famodun, over alleged plot to manipulate processes for the primary election. The youths in the party have equally enjoined the party to use the tradition by picking its candidates using the delegates system and allow Osun West to have the party’s flagbearer in the September 22 ballot.

Meanwhile, the adoption of the direct primary comes with gains and consequences for the West region. It allows more members to be part of the process leading to the selection of one of the 17 candidates. However, the region that has more members is likely to get the slot.