The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has officially adopted the direct primary mode for selecting its next governorship candidate.
Governor Abdullahi Sule announced the decision following a high-level consultative meeting in Abuja on Sunday.
Sule explained that it was aimed at ensuring total transparency and preventing post-election defections.
The Governor noted that the shift to direct primaries aligns with the democratic preferences of the Presidency.
”The majority of the people strongly believe that our primaries be direct rather than consensus. Mr President believes that direct primaries give opportunity for all party members to be involved, and we don’t have any problem with that. We are going to have a very transparent, very democratic process in line with the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act,” Sule said.
The governor emphasised that the choice of direct primaries is a strategy to maintain harmony with several high-profile individuals vying for the seat.
He urged for mutual respect among the contenders, many of whom hold or have held top national positions.
”Today, from what you have seen, we have very, very strong aspirants. These are people that we have to take with respect; we have to treat them gently and remind them about the importance of us working together. Because it is going to be transparent, nobody whatsoever will have any excuse to leave the party and go somewhere else,” he said.
The Governor addressed the sensitive issue of power rotation , replacing the term “zoning,” with the concept of the “broader skipper,” advocating for the seat to move to the Keffi Zone in Nasarawa West.
He pointed out that while the Lafia zone had held the governorship for 12 years before power shifted to Akwanga, the Keffi zone has remained out of the seat for two decades.
“In line with the broader skipper, let us take it to Keffi zone that has not been governor for 20 years. That’s where we are, and God so kind, we are in unison as far as that is concerned,” he said.
