DIRECT PRIMARIES: BETTER OPTION FOR YOUTH POLITICAL MAINSTREAMING!!!

SO MUCH CONTROVERSY IS ONGOING NOW IN NIGERIA OVER THE NEW ELECTORAL BILL PASSED BY THE 9TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

FIRST, WE MUST COMMEND THE 9TH NASS FOR BOTH THE PIB AND THE NEW ELECTORAL ACT, WITH WHICH THEY HAVE WRITTEN THEIR NAMES IN PURE GOLD!!!

MY TAKE ON THE CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE DIRECT PRIMARIES FOR ALL POLITICAL PARTIES, AS ENSHRINED IN THE BILL, IS AS FOLLOWS;

1. IT WILL ENSURE THOROUGH CHECKS AND AUTHENTIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP LIST OF ALL PARTIES, WHILE IMPROVING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, AS ALL POLITICIANS WOULD STRIVE TO MOBILIZE MORE OF THE SYMPATHIZERS INTO PARTY MEMBERSHIP;
2. IT WILL MAKE THE LEADERS OF PARTIES TAKE THE MEMBERS SERIOUSLY AND TREAT THEM BETTER;
3. IT WILL GIVE THE YOUTHS, BEING THE LARGER POPULATION IN NIGERIA, MORE VOICE AND STRENGTH IN THE AFFAIRS OF POLITICAL PARTIES, IF THEY CAN UNITE WITHIN;
   1. THE YOUTHS WILL HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES OF GALVANISING AND MOBILIZING THEMSELVES TO TAKE OVER THE AFFAIRS OF PARTIES AND PRODUCE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTIONS;
4. THOUGH IT WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR BOTH PARTIES AND INEC TO EXECUTE DIRECT PRIMARIES, YET IT WILL SAVE THE HUGE STRESS AND OVERALL FINANCIES, ENERGY AND TIME INVESTED IN PROSECUTING LEGAL TUSSLES OVER DELAGATE LISTS AND IMPOSITION OF CANDIDATES!!!

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ALTHOUGH IMPOSING DIRECT PRIMARIES ON ALL PARTIES IS SOME HOW UNDEMOCRATIC, YET IT SERVES A MORE CRITICAL AND PRODUCTIVE PURPOSE, CONSIDERING THE LEVEL AND STATE OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA TODAY!!!

FROM THE DEPTH OF THE HEART OF THE RISING-SON.