Buhari’s Supporters Storm APC Headquarters, Demand Direct Primaries

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

A group claiming to be supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, yesterday held a protest at the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, expressing their support for the adoption of direct mode of primaries for the 2019 elections.

The group, which stormed the party premises at about 1 p.m. mounted pressure on the security men at the entrance gate before gaining entry into the place.

They demanded to meet with the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, to submit a petition to him.

Some of the protesters however displayed placards with contradictory inscriptions such as: Indirect primary we stand,” “We support direct primary” and “Power must go back to the people “.

Addressing its members, the leader of the Buhari supporters’ group, “the Grassroot Mobilisation for president Buhari/Osibanjo,” Hon. Yusuf Musa Ardo, said they came to show support for direct primaries because it will help return power to the people.

Ardo, who was flanked by the group’s chairman, Hajia Fatimah Gohi, said: “We are Nigerians and supporters of this party, this is grassroots mobilisation for PMB/Osinbajo and we are not happy with the position of some of the governors and the National Working Committee (NWC) members.

Oshiomhole was not available to receive the protesting group but his Chief of Staff, Hon. Abbas Braimah, was on hand to receive their petition. He told the protesters that the new party leadership is responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians and will do everything possible to satisfy their demands.

“As you know, just like the National Chairman has said, politics is a vehicle of development and empowerment and people are the subject and object of that development. So, whatever we do here must be people-centred that is why the new leadership of the party has decided to do whatever is best for the party’’, he stated.

He assured the party supporters that the leadership would do what is the best under the circumstances.

He added that the party has large followers, saying by the special grace of God, the party would win the election because this is not only the largest party in Africa, but the most organised party in Africa.