Direct primary gives power to people, makes Lagos APC stronger — Senator

Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos West Senatorial District, on Friday said the direct open primaries adopted by the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State had the benefit of giving power to the people and making the party stronger.
Adeola, who is seeking to continue in the Senate in 2019, spoke with newsmen as he returned to his ward for a repeat of the senatorial primary in the area, earlier held on Thursday.
The senator said that the party’s National Working Committee ordered a repeat on Friday due to the late arrival of electoral materials on Thursday, and in the interest of equity and fair play.
He lauded his party and members for their adherence to rules and for adopting the direct open primaries to elect their flag bearers in the 2019 General Elections in the state.
He said: “What that simply implies is that APC is the party of the people and this is the first time that you will have a party that will give power to its people to elect who governs them.
“I believe this is the right step in the right direction and what this tends to do to our party is to make it more stronger, more focused and more committed to its manifesto and its programmes especially as a people-oriented party.”
On the turnout for the repeat election, he commended the party members for keeping faith with him.
Adeola said: “As you can see, as loyal party members who adhere strictly to the tenets and rules of our great party, we agreed and we came back here en-masse to repeat the same exercise.
“So everybody is here full of enthusiasm, exchanging banters, showing excitement and supporting the process, and I believe strongly that what we did yesterday and what we are doing now is very credible.
“It is a firm confirmation that the people of Lagos West Senatorial District and the people of Ward D, Alimosho Local Government are solidly behind me and solidly behind the party.
“They have demonstrated love and support for my very humble self and the party at large.”
NAN reports that APC members started trooping to Centre Point Comprehensive College, Egbe Idimu, venue of the primaries in the ward, at about 9am.
Security operatives were on ground at the ward to ensure a smooth exercise at the ward, where the party faithful participated in the exercise using the Option A4 method.
Adebisi Ajayi, Deputy Director, Independent National Electoral Commission, who monitored the exercise, told NAN that the election was free and fair.
He commended the party members for their civility during the exercise.
NAN reports that primaries for the House of Representatives, Alimosho Federal Constituency and Lagos State House of Assembly, Alimosho Constituency 2, also took place at the ward.