Deputy
Provost of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Dr. Jide Johnson on
Monday backed the All Progressives Congress (APC) process of picking candidates
for elective positions, saying that those aggrieved by the outcome ought to be
accustomed to the style of the party.
Johnson,
who was guest on a program THIS MORNING on TVC monitored by our correspondent,
said since 1999, the APC had adopted a structure for deciding on the candidate
to fly the party’s flag during elections, adding that those crying foul were
once beneficiaries of such process.
Addressing
issues raised by some respondents on the programme on the imposition of
candidates for the Local Government elections, Johnson recalled the process by
which the former Governor of the State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola as well as the
incumbent Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode emerged amidst agitations from
aggrieved aspirants.
“There
is a way the APC, especially in Lagos have always decided on the party
flagbearer and this process should not be alien to members of the party. The
peculiarities of Lagos and the structure of the party are very key. Look at who
has been Governor since 1999, you would see that there is a structure.
In the
past, some candidates who were believed to be dark horses have emerged and we
have seen how they performed excellently beyond expectation. There was a lot of
acrimony, then they close ranks, a candidate emerges and life continues.
“Every
party has its own structure of how things are done. In actual sense, for the
progressive ideology, what is usually done even before the picking of
candidate, they allow everybody come out and then do the search party and find
out if such candidate can become the face of the party and represent the
interest of the people. All these are done in the selection process.” he said.
Speaking
on the crisis within the party structure in Odi-Olowo Local Council Development
Area (LCDA) and calls by some members for the postponement of the election, the
NIJ Chief said a protest in one local government was not enough to stop the
elections from going on as scheduled.
“What
LASIEC can do is to continue with the elections and ask aggrieved aspirants to
seek redress after the elections. It is unconstitutional for the any court or
any judge to change an election date. Only LASIEC has the power to fix and
change date of an election,” he said.
He
faulted those accusing LASIEC of conniving with political parties to impose
candidates, saying the business of INEC is to observe the activities that is
being carried out during party primaries and receive the nominated candidate of
the party.
“People
do not vote for the candidate by the electoral process, they vote for the
party. The party is represented by their icon and symbol. It is the party that
determines who gets the ticket. LASIEC has the validly nominated candidate. It
is this candidate that becomes relevant,” he said.
Tags
Politics