Nation
2023: Political Analyst Advises Parties To Adopt Direct Primaries To Select Candidates
Ahead of the nation’s next general elections – a political analyst and public opinion commentator – Hon Austin Nnodim has called on the various political parties jostling for the polls to adopt direct primaries to select their candidates.
According to him, while most Nigerians see the direct primary option as the only way for true democracy, not a few scorn the indirect primary option as undemocratic and a kangaroo arrangement by few political top leaders which does not promote true democracy.
Speaking to our reporter, Nnodim who is the MD/CEO of “Ezelukwu Ventures Nig. Ltd and Stino Environmental Technical Services” also argued that political parties warning up for the election with their variegated political ideologies should be showcased to Nigerians to make their choice.
As the nation’s electoral umpire, Nnodim advised INEC to be firm, demonstrate utmost transparency and credibility in the conduct of the polls, remain impartial and without bias in taking their decisions.
This, he said is in respect to the release of elections results emaciating from the various voting centres.
The technocrat who bemoaned the ceaseless wave of insurgency in the country and the inability of the federal government to remedy the situation contrary to its promise to Nigerians seven years ago, noted that this had created doubts in the minds of most Nigerians and among the political parties about the feasibility of holding the polls.
“From their bloody activities, the Boko Haram sect would have made the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan ungovernable but he (Jonathan) lost the election in 2015.
Seven years after nothing has happened and there are fears among Nigerians that the dogs and baboons will be soaked with blood if the choice of the manufacturer of these words did not succeed”.
On the clamour for presidency by the various ethic nationalities, Nnodim observed that Nigerians accepted and welcomed the creation of six (6) geo political zones by which power rotates between the North and the South in the equal number of states in the geo-political zones.
This his said has nothing to do with indirect party primaries but only requires the zones to produce candidates while the zone whose turn is to produce the president produces the candidate and the electorate vote for candidates of their choice from among the candidates of the zones.
Nation
Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute
The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.
Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.
The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.
“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.
Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state
He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.
“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.
While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.
He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.
Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.