An Associate Professor of Public Law at the Rivers State University, Prof. Richard Nwokocha has criticised the adoption of indirect primaries by the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State.
Prof Richard Nwokocha said the move by Rivers APC will deny party members the opportunity to choose the candidates of their choice during party primaries.
Richard Nwokocha stated that party members will be proud of themselves when they choose their leaders. He noted that party delegates and members will campaign willingly and also defend their votes during general elections when they are allowed to participate in electing party leaders.
”Any man who tells you that direct primary is wrong will have an uphill task explaining to you why it is wrong. So if everybody agrees that the very essence of democracy is for the people to make a choice and that it is right for party members to choose who represents them, then you cannot get that results from indirect primaries”. he stated.
”Clearly, indirect primaries lead to indirect democracy because democracy is about the people choosing, so any process that guarantees somebody choosing for the people is not democracy” he said.
The Associate Professor of Public Law noted that direct primaries are best for democracy, stressing that the adoption of indirect primaries by APC may see the return of Godfatherism in the system.
He stated that the idea will increase rancour and bitterness in the political party.
Prof Richard Nwokocha, who is also the Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association NBA Omoku branch also frowned at the lack of ideology among the political parties in the country.
He stated that the high level of defections among politicians during election period is due to the lack of ideology among the political elites in the country.
