Direct Primaries: Best Way for Candidates to Emerge

Pastor Adewale Giwa, the Senior Pastor of Awaiting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ Ministry, has called for the implementation of direct primaries in political parties.

According to Giwa, direct primaries offer a more transparent process for electing leaders compared to the current system of indirect primaries. He argued that indirect primaries often result in outcomes that can be easily influenced and manipulated, encouraging a culture of delegates being swayed by monetary inducements rather than considering the character and qualities of the candidates. This, in turn, fosters godfatherism within the political sphere, ultimately to the detriment of the electorate. Giwa emphasized that when a state relies on a few individuals to handpick its leaders, the potential for genuine development within such a society is severely compromised.

Giwa stated that the adoption of direct primaries, as seen in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo, is a significant improvement for the system. He believes that any party that fails to adopt direct primaries is prone to creating problems and confusion.

According to him, direct primaries allow the opinion of the people to determine the outcome, rather than just a few individuals. Conversely, indirect primaries limit the decision-making power to a select few, increasing the chances of bad and wicked leaders emerging.

Giwa also expressed skepticism about the current Governor of Ondo State, Akeredolu Aiyedatiwa, and the endorsement he received from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). He questioned Aiyedatiwa's understanding of the problems facing the state and whether he has toured the 18 local governments to understand their needs.

Giwa believes that if a state relies on someone to handpick its leader, that leader will always be dancing to the whims and caprices of that person when they come into power, hindering development.

Overall, Giwa's call for the adoption of direct primaries is rooted in the belief that it will lead to a more transparent and fair election process, resulting in better candidates and ultimately better leaders. He emphasizes that the opinion of the people should be the determining factor in choosing political leaders, rather than the influence of a select few individuals.