Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has welcomed the modified direct primaries introduced by the All Progressives Congress for the conduct of the forthcoming Adamawa State gubernatorial by-election.
The by-election is slated for October 11, 2014.
The modified direct primaries will also be used for other elections, including the presidential primaries, coming up at a later period.
In a press statement issued by his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President said the modified direct primary is the best under the circumstances and nearest to the best under ideal democratic setting.
Abubakar appealed to APC leaders to make Adamawa State a model for the conduct of free, fair and credible electoral process in the country.
He promised to lead the party leaders in the state to create a level-playing ground for all aspirants with such transparency that the election would set a standard for genuine democratic principles of fair play for all states to copy.
He vowed not to interfere with the choice of a candidate the people of Adamawa State will be making.
The former Vice President also appealed to leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party to avoid the dangerous political tactics of playing up sentiments to polarize the people for political advantages.
He explained that the APC is for all Nigerians and that it is not a party for Muslims or Christians.
The Turaki Adamawa said divisive politics would not take Nigeria anywhere.
He, therefore, advised PDP leaders in Adamawa State to save the state and the rest of the country form the divisive tactics to gain power.
“Unlike many of its neighbours, our state has enjoyed relative peace and stability and we don’t want them to bring divisions among our people who had lived peacefully with one another,” Abubakar said.
According to him, Nigerians would focus on how good governance can change their lives for the better instead of paying attention on the religion and ethnicity of elected public office holders.
He said good performance has nothing to do with one’s religion or ethnicity.