As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections, aspirants are set to participate in the party’s primary elections across states for various elective posts.

A primary election is a mini-election where a political party elects its preferred candidate to run for public office under its platform.

During the primaries, parties go through an elimination process where they trim down a pool of nominees to just one person who will represent them at the general polls.

As of May 2026, the national headquarters of the ruling party announced it would use direct elections nationwide.

The Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) allows parties to choose direct, indirect, or consensus, but the latest Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, prescribes only direct and consensus mode of primary election for the nomination of candidates for elections by political parties.

The direct primary requires all card-carrying members at all levels to nominate candidates, rather than vote through delegates.

The direct primary is believed to be more corruption-free and eliminates the delegates’ congress system with all its oft-cited woes.

When a candidate emerges through direct primaries, it means he has the mandate of the generality of party members.

Direct primaries are largely admired for promoting people’s power through increased participation and a guaranteed say for every party member.

To fans of direct primaries, the method reinforces transparency, people engagement, and the idea that every vote counts.

Previously, Section 84(2) of Electoral Act, 2022, had provided that, “The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions shall be by direct, indirect primaries or consensus.”

The indirect primaries system, also called delegate system, has been largely controlled by state governors who determine the delegates for such exercise.

Meanwhile, in a consensus arrangement, all aspirants in a political party will withdraw and endorse a particular candidate. In this case, there won’t be a primary election.

The House of Representatives primaries billed for Saturday, May 15 will kick off a series of elections that will be a litmus test for the party’s internal democracy and will culminate in the high-stakes presidential primary scheduled for May 23. (The Nation, excluding headline)

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