Okoi Obono-Obla The vehement opposition by some political parties, including the African Democratic Party (a party older than t...
Okoi Obono-Obla
The vehement opposition by some political parties, including the African Democratic Party (a party older than the APC but long mired in stunted growth), to the innovation introduced in the Electoral Act 2026 is deeply troubling. Their rejection of the nomination of candidates through Direct Primary Election or Consensus—announced at their press conference on 26 February 2026 in Abuja, which turned out to be a disappointment—seems poorly thought out.
Anyone familiar with previous Electoral Acts would be elated by the introduction of Direct Primaries as one of the two modes of candidate nomination, alongside the abolishment of the corrupt and opaque Indirect Primary Election. The indirect system had long enabled monetization, imposition of candidates, and the handpicking of aspirants by party barons and godfathers. This practice undermined democracy and reduced candidate selection to a transactional process.
I experienced this firsthand in 2022 when I aspired to secure the APC ticket for the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State in the 2023 general elections. The then-incumbent governor, who was also the party leader in the state, orchestrated a skewed delegate selection process across the 66 wards. Delegates were handpicked according to his whims, leaving aspirants like myself completely sidelined. On the day of the primaries at Ikom Stadium, the favored candidate—backed by enormous financial resources—distributed ₦250,000 each to about 335 delegates. Meanwhile, those of us not in the governor’s camp were reduced to mere spectators, despite having paid ₦20 million for nomination and expression of interest forms.
Against this backdrop, opposition to Direct Primaries is unjustifiable. Direct Primaries represent the most democratic, inclusive, and transparent method of candidate nomination. They empower all registered party members to participate in selecting aspirants, ensuring that popular and credible candidates emerge to fly their party’s flag in general elections.
Conclusion
The introduction of Direct Primaries is a bold step toward dismantling entrenched corruption and restoring integrity to Nigeria’s electoral process. Rather than resisting, political parties should embrace this reform as a means of deepening democracy and strengthening public trust in the system.
By Okoi Obono-Obla
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