APC Primary: Direct Voting System Better Than Delegate Process — Chief Oguntoyinbo

By Rotimi Aleshinloye 

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, has described the ongoing direct primary election process in Ekiti State as peaceful, transparent, and commendable, while calling for improvements in logistics and electoral procedures.

Speaking with journalists during the APC primary election in Oye Local Government Area Ward 2, Oguntoyinbo said the exercise in his ward was conducted in an orderly manner without violence or disruption.

According to him, adequate security personnel were deployed by the government to maintain peace and ensure a hitch-free exercise throughout the voting process.

“In my ward, Oye Local Government Ward 2, the process was peaceful and orderly. Security was on ground and there was no chaos at all. It was very peaceful and commendable,” he said.

However, the APC stalwart expressed concern over the late arrival of electoral materials, noting that many elderly party members had waited for several hours before voting commenced.

He explained that party members arrived as early as 9 a.m., but the exercise did not begin until around 11:30 a.m. or noon, stressing the need for better planning and logistics in future elections.

Oguntoyinbo also praised the use of the Option A4 direct primary system, describing it as more transparent and reliable than the delegate system commonly used in party primaries.

He noted that the direct voting process allows party members and observers to clearly see voting patterns, unlike the delegate arrangement where votes could easily be influenced or manipulated.

“This direct primary system is better than the delegate system because everything is open and transparent. People can clearly see where votes are going,” he stated.

The APC chieftain recalled that the Option A4 system was previously used during the era of the late Chief Moshood Abiola and argued that consistent use of the process could strengthen internal democracy in the country.

He called on the government and members of the National Assembly to review and further improve the electoral process to ensure more credibility, transparency, and efficiency in future elections.

Oguntoyinbo concluded by urging political stakeholders to continue supporting reforms capable of deepening democracy and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.