A federal lawmaker representing Iseyin Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency Oyo state, Honourable Shina Peller has expressed confidence that Nigerian youths will leverage on their numerical strength to determine who emerge winners in the 2023 general elections.
Hon. Peller stated this yesterday on Channels Television whilst responding to Seun Okinbaloye’s questions on the programme, Politics Today.
The federal lawmaker, who recalled that Nigerian youths occupy seventy per cent of the country’s population, charged the youth to come together as one, and make their numerical strength count in deciding the country’s next leaders both in the executive and legislative arms of government come 2023.
Responding to questions on direct and indirect primaries that have remained a bone of contention between the executive and legislative arms of government for a while, Hon. Peller proposed that there should be an increase in the number of statutory delegates for indirect primaries, adding that it will give more people a sense of inclusion in the party’s democratic process.
Furthermore, he argued that the clamour by many for direct primaries is not unconnected with the fact that it promotes mass participation and empowers party members to make their choice democratically.
However, Hon. Peller stated further that direct primaries, just like indirect primaries, also has its demerits which includes huge financial requirement and security risk. He therefore added that increasing the number of statutory delegates for indirect primaries will help address the clamour by many for direct primaries.
He listed the proposed statutory delegates for Primaries from National Assembly to local government elections to include:
1. Serving members of the Executive.
2. Former members of the Executive.
3. Serving members of the National Assembly.
4. Former members of the National Assembly.
5. Serving House of Assembly members.
6. Former House of Assembly members.
7. Present members of the Local Government Legislative Council.
8. Former members of the Local Government Legislative Council.
9. Local Government Party Executives.
10. Five ward Executives namely; Chairman, Vice Chairman, Women Leader, Youth Leader and Secretary.
11. Three adhoc delegates.
Similarly, he listed the proposed delegates for Presidential primaries to include:
1. Serving members of the Executive.
2. Former members of the Executives.
3. Serving members of the NationalAssembly.
4. Former members of the National Assembly.
5. Serving House of Assembly members.
6. Former House of Assembly members.
7. Party Governorship flagbearers.
8. Present members of the Local Government Executive Council.
9. Present members of the Local Government Legislative Council.
10. Adhoc delegates, 2 per Local Government.