Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
A governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ogun State, Abimbola Ashiru, has expressed disappointment over the party’s reversal to indirect primaries against the earlier adoption of direct primary system where consensus failed, to choose its candidates ahead of 2019 polls.
Ashiru, who recently resigned his appointment as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in the state, said he was yet to fathom the sudden adoption of indirect primary, when all the stakeholders of the party, including Governor Ibikunle Amosun, had agreed to allow all the aspirants test their might through direct primary mode of selecting the party candidates.
He argued further that if President Muhammadu Buhari could submit himself to direct primary, there was no reason for party leaders in all the states not to follow the president’s example.
Ashiru made these assertions, on Sunday, in an interview with newsmen, shortly after he met with APC leaders and members in Ogun Central senatorial district, to solicit their support ahead of the governorship primary of the party.
His words, “Well, it’s a funny world because I remember that we adopted consensus and where there are more than one candidate, we go for direct primaries.
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“Unfortunately, I went for screening in Abuja, I wasn’t sure of that. But let’s see what happens.
“This is democracy in play. But the point is that if Mr. President can subject himself to direct primaries, and the same process, I don’t see the reason why others cannot do that.
“But let’s see what happens on Thursday. After that, then we see what happens. If Mr. President can subject himself by leading by example with direct primaries, then I don’t see the reason why we cannot conduct such primary because it is the same parameter that is going to be used.
“If we use the same parameter and it is the same process that brought in most of the executives because of the congress,” he stated.
On his chances to emerge as the governorship candidate of the party, Ashiru continued, “Well, we are talking to ourselves from the East. Don’t forget that I’m actually the consensus candidate for Ogun East.
“They screened nine of us and I came out to be number one. Well, I think maybe people have the right to want to contest but having said that, I have the builders of the state with me”.