APC Caucus Meeting: 8 Major Takeaways From Ruling Party’s Latest Parley

• The issue of whether or not the APC should adopt direct primaries instead of the prevalent idea of indirect primaries is still a major topic in the polity
• In direct primaries, every member of the party votes, but in indirect primary, delegates are chosen to vote on behalf of others
• The recent APC caucus meeting presided over by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN made progress on the issue

FCT, Abuja - Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN presided over a caucus meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The meeting was attended by members of the expanded tripartite consultative committee of the executive, legislature, and APC leadership at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, November 9.

Legit.ng gathered that the meeting was about the preference of the members of the National Assembly for direct voting because according to them, state governors have excluded some of them through indirect primaries.

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Below are 8 major takeaways from the parley:

1. The vice president who presided in his opening remarks urged participants to focus on the unity and future of the party.

2. He said: “This period more than ever, we need peace and concord within our party.” He maintained a neutral stand neither speaking for nor against direct or indirect primaries.

3. Then it was the turn of the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party, Mai Mala Buni, who spoke about the committee’s position on the mode of party primaries. He said APC would be guided by its constitution in the conduct of all its activities, and urged members not to lose sight of the bigger picture.

4. President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan spoke on the need for leaders of the party and other stakeholders to close ranks and work for the progress of the party especially in the forthcoming elections.

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5. Thereafter, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila called for strict adherence to the constitution of the party as well as relevant laws of the country in the conduct of political party activities including primaries. He said the passage of the amended bill on the Electoral Act 2021 by both chambers of the National Assembly was a statement of its commitment to the party’s victory in 2023.

6. Governor Bagudu of Kebbi state spoke on behalf of APC governors. He said issues bothering on the concluded state primaries would be resolved, noting that the governors were committed to an amicable resolution of the lingering issues. He also said the legislators may have been demanding for direct primaries out of anger, so he called for calm. Governor Fayemi, who did not utter a word kept nodding as Bagudu spoke.

7. Then Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi, to the loud applause of the crowd of NASS, members at the meeting dismissed Bagudu's insinuations that the passage of the amended electoral act was in protest of the state primaries conducted across the country. He urged the party leadership to follow its constitution and adhere to the amended electoral act bill in the conduct of primaries.

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8. The vice president then closed the meeting having listened to all presentations, assuring that the party would emerge stronger and better. He maintained the position of a moderator and did not take sides all through except to insist on party unity.

How Osinbajo Presided at Latest APC Caucus Meeting

Legit.ng had earlier reported that Vice President Osinbajo assured on agreement among major stakeholders in the APC on the knotty issue of primaries in the party.

Osinbajo urged all stakeholders to come with an amicable solution to the issue for the party to move forward.

He noted that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the comes out stronger from its present logjam.

VP Osinbajo Is a Huge Bridge Builder, Says Governor Fayemi

Recall that the governor of Ekiti state and chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, recently described Osinbajo as a "huge bridge builder," and a leader worthy of emulation.

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Fayemi made the comment on Thursday, October 14 in Ado-Ekiti where Osinbajo was a special guest of honour at the Ekiti State Economic Development and Investment Summit, saying:

“We have for a VP someone who is a huge bridge-builder, someone who is able...he's got shock absorbers to withstand the pressures from the states.”

Source: Legit.ng