Senate Leader Warns APC Against Internal Division Ahead of Primaries
The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to handle the outcomes of the party primaries with great care to avoid internal crisis. Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti after a meeting with key stakeholders in Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Bamidele cautioned party members against disloyalty and betrayal during and after the primary elections. He warned that such actions could give opposition parties the opportunity to recruit disgruntled members.
Opposition Parties Watching Closely
Bamidele specifically mentioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a relatively new party actively seeking to expand its membership nationwide. He noted that internal dissatisfaction among APC members could create openings for the ADC and other opposition parties to make inroads. The Senate Leader emphasized that opposition groups are keenly observing for any signs of division that could be exploited for recruitment.
He urged party members to remain steadfast and committed, stressing the need for effective internal management to prevent any form of implosion within the APC. Bamidele expressed confidence that, so far, the ADC's overtures have not yielded significant progress, but he warned that continued vigilance is necessary.
Primaries Process Explained
Addressing the upcoming party primaries, Bamidele clarified that all aspirants would participate in the process, regardless of whether they emerge through consensus or direct primaries. He explained that Nigeria's electoral framework provides for two modes of candidate selection: consensus and direct primaries. Even candidates who secure consensus endorsements, like himself, must undergo a formal affirmation process.
He stated: “The electoral law has prescribed two modes of primaries. Everybody will face primaries, everybody, including myself. The only thing is that there are two modes of primaries. One is through consensus, the other one is through direct primaries. Even those of us that would emerge through consensus, we still have to go through the primaries, because I would still need people in all the 57 wards of Ekiti Central Senatorial District to vote for me by affirmation.”
Bamidele further explained that if even one person opposes a consensus, direct primaries must be conducted. He advised aspirants who may not emerge victorious to remain committed to the party and not view electoral setbacks as personal failures.
Advice to Aspirants
He said: “Those who don't have a consensus endorsement will have to participate in the direct primaries only. And for those who, for whatever reason, may not appear victorious at the end of the primary election, my advice always is that they would not see themselves as failures. Because if you have a position and you have more than one person who is aspiring to occupy that position, then definitely only one person will get in there. So the other people should just not see themselves as having failed. It could be that it's not their timing yet. It could also be that certain circumstances or geopolitical considerations might not favour them at the particular time. But what's important is to remain consistent, to remain relevant within the party, knowing that by God's grace, their own time will also come.”
