2019: APC attacks PDP over direct primaries, irregular migration

The All Progressives Congress(APC) says the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is already conceding defeat ahead of the 2019 elections by taking undue interest in the mode of primaries the APC adopts to elect its candidates for the elections.

The party stated this in a statement issued by Yekini Nabena, its National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Abuja.

“The APC is amused by the interest the PDP has in the mode of primary election we adopted to elect our party candidates for the 2019 elections.

“With over 13 million registered APC members, coupled with a large section of non-partisan Nigerian electorate supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration, it would seem that the PDP, on account of its attack of APC’s adoption of direct primaries, particularly to elect its presidential candidate, has already conceded defeat even before the 2019 elections.

“We quite understand that the revolutionary and progressive idea of direct primaries to elect party candidates is strange to the PDP,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the PDP is a party known for its inability to ensure internal party democracy, and it actively promotes imposition of candidates against the will of its members.

The statement added that the direct primaries, among other things, ensure fairness; creates a level playing ground for contestants and eliminates corrupt tendencies usually associated with the delegates system.

It also added that the direct primaries ultimately ensure full and direct participation of party members at all levels in the election of party candidates.

It maintained that the APC is a progressive party and would continue to implement the change agenda it promised to Nigerians.

The statement, therefore, urged Nigerians to continue their support for Buhari as he continues to rebuild and re-position the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC National Executive Council (NEC) at its recent 6th meeting, resolved that primary elections into elective offices shall be by direct primaries.

In a separate statement, the APC says President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is committed to mitigating the migration crisis Nigerians are facing, particularly in Libya and in the Mediterranean Sea.

The party stated this in a statement issued by Yekini Nabena, its National Publicity Secretary in Abuja on Sunday when he reacted to comments made by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the issue.

He condemned attempts by the PDP to politicise Mr Buhari’s statement on the illegal migration and trafficking of Nigerians during the recent visit of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel to Nigeria.

“The PDP in its typical insensitive and unguarded stance on matters affecting the country is exploiting an issue that borders to on the lives of Nigerians, mostly youths.
“It is a known fact that many Nigerian families have suffered grief as a result of deaths and other inhuman treatment that have befell relatives attempting migration to Europe and other parts of the world.
“Through support of international agreements and efforts towards curbing illegal migration, repatriation of stranded Nigerian migrants and addressing root causes encouraging illegal migration of Nigerians, the President Buhari administration has demonstrated the political will to check the scourge,” he said.
It noted that the pains and sufferings most Nigerians go through with the hope of reaching Europe had been well reported through relevant agencies.
He recalled the presidential directive for Nigerians to be evacuated from Libya and other locations and be returned home safely.

Mr Nabena said the administration had already put in place several interventionist programmes to enable such persons start new and productive lives in the country.

He said that with unemployment and poverty identified as one of the root causes of illegal migration, the President Buhari administration was using initiatives to check the ugly trend.

He listed the initiatives as: N-Power, Bank of Industry Youth Entrepreneurship Support, Central Bank of Nigeria support schemes, Agriculture, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.

(NAN)