An aspirant for the Ondo North Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Alex Ajipe, has advocated the adoption of direct primaries, describing the system as the most credible means of selecting party candidates.
Ajipe said the process, when properly implemented, would allow all registered party members to participate in choosing their representatives, thereby promoting transparency and strengthening internal democracy.
He stated this on Tuesday during a programme, ‘The Circuit,’ at the Ondo State Radiovision Corporation in Akure, where he spoke on the theme, “Scaling the Hurdles of Bad Governance through Qualitative Representation.”
According to him, direct primaries also offer a more cost-effective alternative to other methods, while ensuring that popular candidates emerge through a fair and open process.
Explaining his position, Ajipe said an ideal direct primary should involve party members queuing behind their preferred candidates, with votes counted openly to guarantee credibility.
“If direct primaries are conducted the way they ought to be, they will remain the best option for electing party representatives and leaders,” he said.
He added, “With sincerity and commitment to fairness, the most accepted candidates will naturally emerge, and that will translate into better representation for the people.”
The APC chieftain also criticised what he described as a growing culture of political rivalry in Ondo State, where some federal appointees and lawmakers allegedly work against sitting governors to advance personal ambitions.
He called for unity among political actors, urging appointees, particularly at the federal level, to collaborate with the state government in delivering good governance.
“It is time for political leaders to exercise restraint and work together. Everyone will eventually reach their destination, but unity and shared purpose are essential for progress,” he said.
On the debate over part-time legislature, Ajipe maintained that Nigeria’s complex governance challenges require full-time lawmakers, stressing that citizens should judge elected officials based on the quality of representation they provide.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ OSRC/Orange FM Chapel, Odunayo Sawyerr, said poor governance in the country is largely driven by corruption and weak accountability, urging leaders to embrace competence and transparency.
She noted that effective representation, rooted in accountability and empathy, remains key to overcoming development challenges and improving public trust in governance.
Also speaking, the Director-General of OSRC Media Group, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, alongside the Director of News and Current Affairs, Taiwo Ibitoye, described the discussion as timely, emphasising the role of the media in promoting accountability and exposing wrongdoing in public office.
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