States will continue with indirect primaries except when an issue of importance arises. All registered members of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) will now have the privilege to vote in the party’s primary election for the position of president as the party has adopted the direct primary method ahead of the 2019 elections.During the meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja on Thursday, August 30, 2018, it made the decision to adopt the direct approach for the president’s position but not for other electoral positions.While the party employed the indirect delegate system for the 2015 general elections, the direct method allows all registered party members to vote and has already been adopted for the Osun Governorship primary election.Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, disclosed after the meeting that states will continue with indirect primaries except when an issue of importance arises.The indirect system allows for only selected delegates and party leaders at local levels and political appointees as well as elected officials to vote in primary elections.The adoption of the direct method for the presidential primary is not expected to affect the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari as he has no major challenger in the party.
