APC Primary Process Under Scrutiny, Says Legal Expert Frank Tietie
LAGOS, May 11 — In an interview with Arise Television on Sunday, senior lawyer Frank Tietie warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is increasingly handing control of its primary elections to state governors. Tietie, who has practiced law for over two decades, said the shift could entrench the current president’s position and raise questions about the protection of aspirants’ rights.
The comments came as the APC gears up for the 2027 general elections, a period marked by intense internal jockeying for candidacies across the country. According to Tietie, the party’s delegation of authority to governors “might tend to ensconce his own position,” referring to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He described the move as a political decision that ultimately rests with the president.
A key concern highlighted by Tietie is the handling of candidates who voluntarily withdraw from contention in favor of a consensus nominee. “The protection of the individual’s right, who has indeed submitted a voluntary withdrawal, is paramount,” he said. He stressed that any aspirant who signs a withdrawal form should receive a full disclosure of the process that follows, including how the consensus candidate will be selected.
Tietie warned that failure to provide such transparency could prompt aggrieved candidates to seek judicial redress. “If the processes of achieving the consensus were actually breached, the individual can approach the courts,” he explained. He added that the party must disclose the selection method—whether it involves a ballot, a simple show of hands, or even a random draw—at the moment the withdrawal form is submitted.
The lawyer’s remarks underscore growing unease within party structures about the balance of power between national leadership and state governors. While the APC has not publicly responded to Tietie’s statements, insiders suggest that the party’s internal mechanisms are being reviewed to avert potential legal challenges ahead of the next election cycle.
If aspirants pursue court action, the judiciary could be called upon to interpret the APC’s internal regulations and determine whether the withdrawal and consensus processes comply with the party’s constitution. Such litigation could set precedents for how political parties manage candidate selection in Nigeria’s multiparty system.
The interview adds another layer to the ongoing debate over internal democracy within Nigeria’s dominant parties, a topic that has attracted attention from civil society groups and election monitors alike. Observers note that transparent primary processes are essential for maintaining public confidence in the electoral landscape, especially as the nation approaches a pivotal election year.
Tientie’s observations serve as a reminder that the mechanics of candidate selection remain a contested arena, with potential legal and political ramifications that could shape the APC’s fortunes in 2027. The party’s next steps in addressing these concerns will likely influence both its internal cohesion and its broader electoral appeal.
