Daniel Onjeh, an APC chieftain in Benue, has urged the national leadership of the party to insist on direct primaries for the election of its candidates for the 2019 general election.

Onjeh, an aspirant to the Senate, in a statement in Makurdi on Tuesday, said direct primaries would brighten the chances of the party in the state.

He said that the process would minimise acrimony and reduce unnecessary friction amongst party members and strengthen its structure at the state level.

According to him, the process will check flagrant disregard for party guidelines and eliminate imposition of candidates by some party leaders.

Onjeh, a former student unionist and Chairman of the Governing Board, Project Development Institute (PRODA), said the process would give ordinary party members the opportunity to elect their candidates.

He said that direct primaries had been accepted by most aspirants in the state.

“We, the Benue APC progressives, wholeheartedly endorse and support the initiative of the Adams Oshiomhole-led APC to conduct direct primaries across the country to elect candidates for the forthcoming election.

“I make this call particularly for APC in Benue which suffered several setbacks as a result of imposition of candidates for general elections.

“Only popular candidates will emerge winners from the 2019 general election.

“Thus, it’s imperative for the party structure at the national level to encourage all aspirants to subject themselves to popularity test within the party,” Onjeh said.

The aspirant commended the adoption of the process for the election of its candidates in Ekiti and Osun and said the results were remarkable.

He appealed to the National Working Committee of the party to consider the option and endorse it during its crucial meeting slated for Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Onjeh was the APC’s candidate for Benue South senatorial seat who contested against Sen. David Mark of PDP in 2015 general election (NAN)

– Aug. 28, 2018 @ 19:09 GMT |