By Mercy Adi
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has defended the adoption of a consensus-driven approach for party leadership selection, insisting that the process remains rooted in democratic principles and transparency.
Kalu spoke ahead of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress, stressing that political parties operate within established rules that guide primaries and leadership elections.
He said, “Political parties are guided by laid-down rules that define how primaries and leadership elections should be conducted. These processes must be open, participatory and credible.”
The lawmaker explained that although multiple methods exist for selecting party executives, including direct elections, the party adopted a harmonised consensus model to promote unity, reduce costs and minimise internal conflicts.
According to him, the consensus arrangement followed extensive consultations and stakeholder engagements across various levels of the party, ensuring that decisions reflected the collective will of members rather than imposition.
Kalu further noted that all positions within the National Working Committee were equitably zoned across Nigeria’s geopolitical regions, with additional micro-zoning to states.
“This approach reinforces fairness, inclusivity and national cohesion within the party,” he added.
He disclosed that the consensus-building process produced unopposed candidates for all positions, effectively removing the need for competitive voting, as members are expected to affirm the agreed candidates during the convention.
Addressing concerns that consensus arrangements could suppress dissenting voices, Kalu maintained that the party has institutional mechanisms to resolve grievances.
“We have reconciliation committees in place to address disputes arising from congresses or the convention. No one is left without a platform to express concerns,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker expressed confidence that the convention would end without major disputes, describing the exercise as a reflection of internal democracy and party unity.