A former presidential aide has alleged that former presidential candidate Peter Obi and his allies are advocating for the adoption of direct primary elections within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), even as Nigeria’s electoral law has officially removed the direct primary option for all parties.
Bashir Ahmad, who served as a Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, made the claim on the social media platform X. His statement follows the recent constitutional amendment that eliminated direct primaries from Nigeria’s electoral framework. The amendment, passed by the National Assembly, received presidential assent from President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, formalising the change.
Under the previous system, political parties could choose between direct primaries, where all card-carrying members vote for candidates, and indirect primaries, where delegates selected by the party make the choice. The new legal provision now mandates only indirect primaries or other methods as prescribed by parties’ constitutions, removing the direct option entirely from the statutory framework.
Ahmad’s post directly referenced Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, stating there were “clear indications that Peter Obi and his supporters were pushing for the adoption of direct primaries within the ADC.” His timing highlights a perceived disconnect between internal party manoeuvres and the new national law. The ADC is one of several smaller parties that did not meet the threshold for major party status but remains a registered political entity.
The allegations surfaced against the backdrop of ongoing discussions about internal democracy within Nigeria’s opposition bloc. Obi, a prominent figure in the 2023 election, has long positioned himself as a reformer advocating for transparent and inclusive political processes. Direct primaries are often championed by reformers as a more democratic method for candidate selection, reducing the influence of party elites and godfathers. However, critics argue they can be expensive and logistically challenging to implement across Nigeria’s vast population.
The swift assent by President Tinubu to the amendment signifies a decisive shift in the rules governing how parties select their standard-bearers for future elections, including the 2027 general polls. This legal change now renders any party-level push for direct primaries unconstitutional, as the statutory basis for that method no longer exists.
The ADC has not yet publicly responded to Ahmad’s specific allegations regarding Obi’s supporters. The focus now turns to how all registered political parties will adapt their internal constitutions and operational guidelines to align with the new indirect-primary mandate. For opposition figures like Obi, the legal change may necessitate a strategic recalibration of any previously held positions on grassroots candidate selection methods. The episode underscores the intricate interplay between national electoral law reforms and the tactical calculations of political actors positioning for future contests.
