By Ghazali Ibrahim
President Bola Tinubu has instructed the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt direct primary elections in situations where party aspirants are unable to reach a peaceful consensus.
According to sources within the party, the directive is aimed at preventing internal conflicts and discouraging the imposition of candidates under the guise of consensus arrangements.
One source familiar with the development said the President emphasised the need to maintain unity within the party by avoiding contentious selection processes. He reportedly warned against allowing vested interests to manipulate consensus outcomes.
Another insider disclosed that Tinubu underscored the importance of fairness and inclusiveness, urging party leaders to uphold internal democracy.
Where consensus proves difficult, he advised that all registered party members should be allowed to participate in choosing candidates through direct primaries.
Direct primaries involve the participation of all registered members of a political party in selecting candidates, unlike indirect primaries where only accredited delegates vote.
The Electoral Act 2022 permits political parties to choose between direct, indirect, or consensus methods for candidate selection.
However, it mandates transparency in the process, including prior notification to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), monitoring by the commission, and the use of a verified membership register.
The law also requires that consensus candidacy must be backed by the written consent of all aspirants. Where such agreement is not reached, parties are expected to conduct primary elections.
