By Alemma Aliu

An All Progressives Congress, APC, leader in Edo State and former Special Adviser on Politics to former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr Charles Idahosa, has said that there was no disagreement over direct primary election in the state.

Speaking with Vanguard in Benin City, he said “I don’t think there is a disagreement whatsoever over direct primary election in the state. It is very clear that people will have different opinions and wishes but I think at the end of the day, the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party will decide on it.

The National Working Committee, NWC, had approved it, the national chairman is in support because that was the first position he took in Osun State, followed by the National Leader in Lagos. I support direct primaries.”

I use this opportunity to appeal to the members of NEC to confirm the position of the NWC so that we can all have a collective responsibility in choosing the candidates in respective positions we are going to contest for.

If we all have a hand in picking the candidate, automatically, we also have to work to return that candidate but when you say consensus, though it is in our constitution, it is deceitful. It means some few privilege sitting in one room and taking a decision that we have arrived at a consensus, so I support the direct primaries in order to involve members of the party. It has happened in Osun, so I think it should be a national position because it will cut off godfatherism.

“What we have in Edo State where they said that the consensus has worked is a silence of the grave yard, that is exactly what we are having here. The truth of the matter is that we should involve every card carrying member of the party to have a say on who represents them. I am not the kind of politician that just talk, I am a politician that have gone through it all so I know the advantages and disadvantages.”