Ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki has said that direct primaries are the best for political parties in choosing their flag bearers for elective positions.

He added that the controversy on the propriety or otherwise on the passage of the direct primary bill by the National Assembly should not be allowed to scuttle the electoral bill.

Saraki spoke with reporters in Ilorin, Kwara state capital on the sideline of this year’s fidau for his late father Dr Olusola Saraki.

He added that the most important thing was for President Muhammadu Buhari to give his assent to the electoral bill for Nigerians to benefit from its other parts.

According to him: “Direct Primaries are best for political parties if properly done. But I am not sure Nigerians prepared for it becuas there is still a lot of work to be done.

“But now the National Assembly has passed it, we should make the best out of the situation rather than allowing the controversy one item to throw away the other good parts of the bill.

“What is important is for the President to assent to it and enable Nigerians to benefit from the other parts.”

On the Anambra governorship elections, Saraki noted that the exercise was a success for Nigeria and democracy.

“The Anambra election was a success story for Nigeria because many of us were skeptical that it would hold.

“But it not only held, it was peaceful and credible and we commend INEC for bringing in technology which we have advocated to improve our electoral process.

“Yes, there’s still some works that needed to done, no doubt, but we can improve on that for the next election to be better. People can now say we are having elections that is closer to global best practices. That election was a good day for democracy and Nigeria and we thank the security agencies also,” he said.

On the recent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s convention, Saraki said the PDP has demonstrated the capacity and leadership qualities to deliver the country with the way its leaders reconciled to hold the convention.