Former representative of the Rivers South-East district at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has given his support for direct primaries, saying that it would return power to the people.
He, therefore, called on Nigerians to support the passage of the Electoral Act by members of the National Assembly.
Abe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, made the call during a courtesy visit on a monarch, HRH, Kadilo Kabari, in Barako in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday.
The Senator added that the signing of the Electoral Act by President Muhammadu Buhari will also end all short-cut to power.
Abe, in a statement by his media aide, Parry Benson further said ultimately, the process of INEC supervised direct primaries will reduce cost of organising elections in Nigeria.
“Elections are not expensive, it is the behavior of people that destroyed the electoral process in our country that has made elections become expensive.
“This Electoral Act, if signed by Mr. President, will give Nigeria a new beginning and provide new opportunities for Nigerians to actually reap the dividends of democracy because there would be no short cut to power anymore,” he stated.
He decried a situation where principal stakeholders who ought to be architects of sustainable democracy are those responsible for its chaotic and expensive practice.
“Ordinarily, election is a clerical job. All you need is a Polling Clerk, Presiding Officer and Party agents and they will conduct an election that will produce the kind of result that will be difficult to contest in Court if we allow them to work.
“But, when those who should take part in the process are the ones hiring buses, planing thuggery, bringing Police and Army, they make the election process to be expensive, cumbersome and disputed,” Abe stated, saying a credible electoral process in Nigeria will change the attitude of politicians.
He added, “When politicians know that their fate in an election will be dependent on the people’s vote, they will behave differently. INEC supervised direct primaries is the way to go.”
