Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has resolved to adopt direct primaries for selecting its candidates for the 2027 general elections, including the governorship ticket. The decision emerged from an expanded stakeholders’ meeting held in Bauchi, where party officials discussed measures to avoid the internal disputes that plagued the APC in previous election cycles.
According to a party source who attended the gathering, participants voted to scrap the previously used consensus arrangement in favour of a direct voting system that allows all registered APC members in the state to choose nominees. The source told Media Talk Africa on Saturday that the shift aims to enhance transparency, fairness and broader participation.
“The consensus among stakeholders is that direct primaries will give every aspirant an equal opportunity and make the process more credible because the outcome will be visible to everyone,” the source said. He added that the new arrangement is expected to strengthen internal democracy and ensure that candidates with genuine grassroots support emerge for the 2027 polls.
Party leaders also expressed confidence that direct primaries will reduce post‑primary disputes and position the APC more favourably ahead of the upcoming elections. The resolution is to be forwarded to the APC State Executive Council for ratification, after which an official announcement will be made.
The meeting was attended by a wide cross‑section of APC officials, including senators, members of the House of Representatives, former governors, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, state executive members, local government party chairmen and other key stakeholders.
The move reflects a broader trend among Nigerian political parties to adopt more open candidate selection processes after criticism of opaque consensus methods in past elections. In the 2019 and 2023 cycles, the APC’s internal conflicts over candidate nominations were cited as factors that weakened its performance in several states.
If ratified, the direct primary system will require APC members in Bauchi to register and vote for their preferred candidates at designated polling stations, mirroring the primary mechanisms used by some opposition parties. The party intends to publish detailed guidelines on timelines, eligibility criteria and voting procedures in the coming weeks.
Adopting direct primaries could also influence the dynamics of intra‑party competition, as aspirants will need to mobilise support across the state rather than rely on elite consensus. Observers note that such a shift may increase voter engagement within the party and potentially improve the quality of candidates presented to the electorate.
The APC’s decision will be closely watched as the 2027 general elections approach, with the party seeking to present a united front and avoid the factionalism that has previously hampered its electoral fortunes.
