2019: APC should expect more defections for allowing indirect primaries in states – Senator Marafa

Kabiru Garba Marafa

The Senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Garba Marafa, has said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, should brace up for more defections and litigation over their decision to allow governors decide type of primaries at states’ level.

The lawmaker told Daily Trust that there are a lot of negative repercussions awaiting the ruling party.

Marafa pointed out that the party may also lose some elected positions to the opposition parties as a result of the indirect primaries.

He said the governors would manipulate their ways through the delegates, adding that delegate will be illegally selected during congresses in many states.

He said, however, that‎ the decision to conduct direct primaries for the presidential election would save the party at the centre because nobody would challenge the party either within or outside as the right procedure is adopted.

According to Marafa, many federal lawmakers of the APC would not be obedient to the party any longer with the kind of decision taken on indirect primaries at state levels.

‎”One, I see it as a vote of no confidence on the congresses conducted months ago.‎ Two, it shows how committed and intelligent Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to the party and the president. Also, it shows how committed Oshiomhole is. Three, it shows their hands were tight.

“Since the NEC is populated by the governors and their cronies, whatever they want would scale through.

“They were aware that the congresses were flawed and that they were subject to litigation across the country. The present NWC were convinced that most of what the congresses did wouldn’t stand with time.

‎”You are going to see the repercussions. When the National Assembly resumes, you’ll see that a lot of people won’t be obedient to the party any longer. That’s what it means.

“Undoubtedly, people would want to pick tickets elsewhere and contest.‎ The people of Zamfara are ready to vote for Buhari, but in other elections, they will vote for personalities.”

‎Asked if court judgment did not come in their favour in the ongoing litigation against the party’s congresses, he said: “We have several options, and we’ll take one if we feel and are convinced that we are not fairly treated.

“Since the governors are not interested in direct primaries and what they did in their states was like a child play, the NWC decided that let’s hold the centre.

“The delegates won’t be the ones to elect the president so that courts won’t quash the president’s ticket.

“They’ve also realized that the masses truly believe in the person of president Muhammadu Buhari, but the governors, most of them, lost relevance in their states. It is only somebody that isn’t relevant that won’t want direct primaries.

“It’s a shame that a senator would call for direct primary, while a governor would object it. The governors are the ones that are afraid of direct primaries, but they’re supposed to be the stronger ones.

“It means the party can’t sanction the governors.

“Since the governors insisted and the party needs them for several reasons, let them go and do what they want to do in their states. It’s a thumbs up for the party on one hand and on the other it shows that the party is weak.

“I think what the party did yesterday was an excellent decision. Let’s separate the president from what happened.”

-Daily Post