By Ismail Omipidan
THE National Executive Council (NEC) of the newly registered Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) has said that its presidential candidate for 2019 general elections would emerge through Electoral College.
The National Chairman of the party, Shittu Mohammed, disclosed this at the weekend. He said the idea was part of the decisions reached yesterday at the end of the NEC meeting of the party held at its national secretariat in Abuja.
He said the party embraced the use of Electoral College as against the common practice where presidential candidates emerge through delegates election to allow for the participation of all party members in choosing their presidential candidate, adding that there was need to depart from a tradition that did not serve the interest of the masses.
“Apart from the fact that it reduces waste, because delegates will not need to travel to Abuja from their various states to elect their candidate, the process will also ensure that the presidential aspirants traverse the length and breadth of the country to get votes.
“When they move across the country, they will be able to understand the plights and needs of the people better, and they will therefore be better prepared to serve their interest,” Mohammed added. A communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the National Secretary of the party, Emeka Okengwe, noted that “APDA is changing the old order that did not add value to the masses. APDA will ensure that masses are well represented and it is only their wish that will be considered uppermost at all times.”
It added: “The NEC also resolved that APDA will build and sell its ideology of social democracy based on 60 per cent of appointive and elective positions.
Women will have 30 per cent, youths will have 25 per cent, and people living with disability will have five per cent.
“The NEC also reaffirms its believe in the indivisibility of this country.
APDA believes in one Nigeria where each state is able to take comparative advantage of the natural resources in its domain, for the good of all.”