2027: CLO Urges Political Parties to Conduct Credible, Transparent Primary Elections
The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has made patriotic and passionate appeal to all political parties participating in 2027 General Elections to protect internal democracy and restore public trust through credible and rancour-free party primaries.
The Chairman of CLO in Anambra State, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, made the call in Enugu on Tuesday while speaking on need for citizens to participate in various political parties primary elections that would determine future candidates of the parties.
Ezekwueme noted that credible primaries are the foundation of legitimate elections devoid of manipulation, exclusion, favoritism, god fatherism and violence.
He said that poorly conducted and manipulative party primary weakens electoral process and citizens lose faith and confidence in democratic institutions.
The chairman called on political party faithful to reject violence, vote buying, intimidation and nepotism as “without free, fair, credible primary election, there won’t be credible General Elections”.
“For our hard earned democracy to strive and stand the test of time, party leaders must discard with great disdain anointed, favorite and king makers chosen candidates to the detriment of interest of members of the political parties.
“It is existential reality and irrefutable truth that flawed primaries lead directly to post-election disputes, low voter turnout, bad governance and instability.
“CLO calls on political parties leaders to desist the temptation of encouraging aspirants to buy expression of interest and nomination forms when they have endorsed anointed candidates.
“When a politician is convinced he lost election in a free, flawless and fair contest,he will accept it in good faith,” he said.
According to him, it is of prime importance to note that credible primary will reduce avoidable litigations, bickering, anti-party activities, distrust and change of political parties.
Ezekwueme noted that the oppressed is as evil as an oppressor when he remains silence, adding that those who are morally grounded hardly accept such injustices.
“Worst when an aggrieved aspirants complain over such monumental injustices, he will be expelled for anti-party activity for agitating for justice and transparency.
“When they failed, refused and neglected to upholds justice and truth yet want victim of such injustices, exploitations and extortions to accept, it is imaginable.
‘It is unfortunate to subject aspirants to unnecessary waste of time, talent, treasure and possessions. and expect them to abhor and condole such injustice without protest,” he said.
The chairman urged political parties to help sustain democracy by reducing drastically price of expression of interest and nomination forms as well as electioneering campaigns expenditures.