The All Progressives Congress may alter the mode for its presidential primaries if feelers from the party hierarchy are anything to go by.
It was learnt in Abuja, on Thursday, that high ranking party members loyal to some of the presidential aspirants were bringing their influence to bear in the struggle to ensure that whatever mode was finally agreed upon, would be favourable to the aspirant of their choice.
The APC had earlier agreed on the modified direct primaries but supporters of one of the aspirants rejected it, saying it was not captured in the party’s constitution.
Specifically, supporters of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari had argued that the party constitution stipulated that the nomination of candidates “shall be through direct or indirect primary election.”
This, they said, should be the mode in an event the consensus arrangement they were pushing for did not sail through.
Supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the other hand, argued that the direct or indirect primaries entailed voting by party members. This, they argued, should be adhered to.
The APC national working committee saddled with the responsibility of working out the modalities for the primaries met in Abuja, on Thursday.
It was gathered that the committee would submit its report to the party’s leaders who in turn would meet with aspirants before the National Executive Committee for final approval.
Although the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, confirmed that the NWC scheduled a meeting for 2pm. He said, “It has been rescheduled for 5pm.” He gave no further details.
In a related development, female party loyalists under the aegis of Vanguard of Progressive Change, (women wing); have threatened to protest naked if the party imposed a candidate as its flag bearer.
This was contained in a statement signed by its leader, Ekema Joy Edith, in Abuja, on Thursday.
According to the group, the proposed imposition as widely reported by Nigerian dailies is against the aspirations of the party supporters in the southern part of Nigeria in particular and in Nigeria at large.
The statement partly read, “In the light of the foregoing, we of the vanguard of Progressive Change women wing, vow to go naked in the street to impose a curse and invoke the spirit of our ancestors against any son or daughter of the land that is masquerading as leader of our party.”
Edith cautioned leaders of the party on the desire and aspirations of the people for a change in the country.
“There is no doubt that the emergence of our party is not for the selfish interest where the end justify the means but rather it’s a product of the desire and aspirations of the people for a change in our country,” she added.
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