By Danlami Nmodu
The National Headquarters of All Progressives Congress, has rejected attempts to centralize the conduct of primaries for Lagos State Council Election.
A letter from Abuja addressed to Lagos APC chairman warned the state council to desist from that plan. Instead, Lagos APC was advised that primaries “should be conducted at a designated venue of each Local Government Area as approved by the Executive of that local government.”
The warning from the national headquarters was contained in a letter to Lagos APC signed by National Legal Adviser, Dr Muiz A Banire SAN, dated May22, 2017. Banire cautioned that any other thing contrary to the advise from the national headquarters will be an exercise in futility.
APC legal adviser’s message titled: “Re Conduct OF Primaries For The Lagos State Council Elections” reads thus: “I was recently informed of the decision of the Lagos State Executive of the Party to centralize the conduct of the above captioned primaries in a particular location. As the custodian of the Party’s Constitution, it is of utmost necessity for me to immediately say that this will not be in consonance with the spirit and letter of the Constitution. The Constitution confers the power to designate the venue of such Council primaries in the Party Executive of the local Government.
“The expectation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(as altered),the Electoral Act(as amended) and the Party Constitution is that the primaries should be conducted at a designated venue of each Local Government Area as approved by the Executive of that local government. This is the practice in all states of the Federation including the recently held Council primaries in Benue State.
“Thus, I wish to inform you that the primaries must be held at the venue within the different Local Government Area as approved by the Party Executive of the Local Government.
“I must say that I do not want to believe that the essence of seeking to centralise the conduct of the primaries is to manipulate and rig the process in favour of certain imposed aspirants.
“To avoid this and in line with our great Party’s practice of publicising the conduct of primaries (right from the conduct of primary for the presidential election to the primaries for election at State level-gubernatorial and National Assembly elections), the same tradition must continue with the primaries for Council Elections.
“I am also aware that the National Body is sending its monitors while observers are also expected at different venues.
“I urge transparency and fairness in the conduct of the primaries.It is necessary to avoid any exercise in futility”.
