Party Primaries Spark Fresh Debate as Politicians Clash Over Electoral Act and Candidate Substitutions

Fresh concerns have emerged over the conduct of political party primaries in Nigeria, with politicians expressing differing views on the implementation of the 2022 amended Electoral Act and the role of political parties in candidate selection.

Speaking during a television discussion, an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged that no genuine primary election was conducted in his state during the party's nomination process.

According to him, what was presented as a primary election did not reflect the actual process on the ground, arguing that events surrounding the exercise were inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He maintained that while the amended Electoral Act introduced important reforms, it also contains shortcomings, particularly regarding the conduct and supervision of party primaries.

The aspirant further argued that political parties retain the constitutional authority to determine and submit the names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), regardless of disputes arising from internal nomination exercises.

Responding to the claims, another party representative rejected the allegation that no primaries were held, insisting that the APC conducted primary elections across the country under the supervision of committees established by the party's National Working Committee.

According to the party official, the APC successfully conducted primaries in the overwhelming majority of states, with only a limited number of cases involving candidate substitutions.

He explained that substitution became necessary in a few states due to issues arising after the primaries, stressing that the vast majority of candidates emerged through duly conducted party processes.

The discussion also highlighted the continuing debate over INEC's role in monitoring party primaries. While the electoral commission is empowered to observe the conduct of primaries, participants differed on whether its observations should override a political party's final decision regarding the nomination of candidates.

The exchanges underscore the persistent legal and political disagreements surrounding Nigeria's electoral process as parties continue preparations for future elections, with stakeholders calling for further reforms to strengthen transparency, internal democracy and public confidence in party primaries.