By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN — LEADERS of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Edo State, weekend, explained why they opted for consensus candidates in last Saturday’s chairmanship and councillorship primaries of the party ahead of the April 20, local government elections in the state.

The party argued that a more democratic primary would disenfranchise members, who joined the party from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, few months to the governorship election. They said the consensus approach was decided by the leaders of the party in the 18 local government areas of the state, including former PDP leaders in their various councils.

The member representing Owan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Pally Iriase and Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Political Matters, Mr. Charles Idahosa, told Vanguard that it was also a perfect strategy to avoid crisis in the party.

Iriase said: “It is not the best because parties must work very seriously towards internal democracy but that is the best we can get for now due to the situation of things in the party in the state.

“The peculiar case in which we found ourselves in Edo State is that shortly before the last election, there was an influx of people into the state and they did not have party cards but they worked tirelessly and made us win the election. So, if you say it must be popular primaries, chances are that many of them will be disfranchise because you need that party card as a means of identification.”