The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Edo chapter has kicked against holding a direct primary election amid the COVID-19 pandemic saying it would put the lives of Edo people in serious danger.
ALGON Chairman in Edo, Mr. Jerkins Osunde, stated this at a news briefing on Sunday.
Represented by Osi Akhigbe, Etsako central Chairman, Osunde noted that the process would undermine all efforts at containing the spread of the Coronavirus in the state.
Recall that the National Working Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had proposed direct primaries for the Edo governorship election which is slated for September 19.
Osunde, however, expressed the view that indirect primaries was “the safest option, the most humane and healthy alternative for the Edo APC governorship primaries.”
He stated further: “As local government Chairmen, we have been working very closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the state’s task force on the pandemic.
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“We are aware of the health dangers the virus portends for the people in our communities if the measures put in place are not strictly adhered to.
“We are also aware of the corrosive blight that the virus can inflict on our people if we fail to follow the NCDC guidelines.
“We cannot in good conscience, support a political exercise that will put the health of our people in grave danger.”
Osunde said he was shocked that anyone genuinely concerned about the lives of Edo people would at this point be proposing a large gathering of people.
He said that would negate the global best practices prescription of physical distancing as measure for containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
