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ABUJA – Nigeria’s registered political parties have faulted the conduct of the recently concluded primary elections ahead of the 2027 general election, describing the exercise as deeply flawed and calling for urgent reforms to the country’s electoral framework.
The parties, speaking through the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), blamed many of the challenges experienced during the nomination process on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the restriction that eliminated indirect primaries as a valid mode of candidate selection.
IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, made the position known on Tuesday at the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of political parties held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting provided an opportunity for political parties and electoral stakeholders to review the conduct of the primaries, which officially ended on May 30, 2026, and assess lessons ahead of the next phase of the electoral process.
Delivering what amounted to a collective assessment by Nigeria’s political parties, Dantalle said the nomination exercise exposed significant legal, administrative and operational shortcomings that require immediate national attention.
According to him, the experiences of political parties during the primaries revealed weaknesses in the current legal framework governing candidate nominations.
“The nomination exercise which officially concluded on Saturday, May 30, 2026, exposed significant legal, administrative, and operational challenges that deserve urgent national attention,” he said.
Dantalle noted that while the Electoral Act 2026 was intended to deepen internal democracy within political parties, some of its provisions produced unintended consequences that complicated the conduct of primaries across the country.
He particularly criticised the removal of indirect primaries as a recognised mode of candidate nomination, arguing that the restriction placed enormous pressure on political parties and contributed to many of the disputes and logistical difficulties witnessed during the exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the parties, the IPAC chairman described the primaries as a “charade,” a verdict that underscores growing dissatisfaction among political stakeholders over the implementation of the current electoral framework.
The criticism comes amid ongoing debates over the effectiveness of direct primaries and other nomination procedures introduced by successive electoral reforms aimed at strengthening internal party democracy and reducing the influence of political godfathers.
Supporters of direct primaries have argued that they give ordinary party members a greater voice in selecting candidates and reduce manipulation by party elites. However, critics contend that they are often expensive, difficult to administer and vulnerable to logistical challenges, particularly for parties with nationwide structures.
The concerns raised by IPAC add a new dimension to the debate, coming from political parties that were directly responsible for conducting the primaries under the provisions of the law.
Political observers note that disputes arising from party primaries have historically accounted for a substantial proportion of pre-election litigation in Nigeria, often resulting in prolonged legal battles and internal party crises.
The parties’ call for reform is therefore expected to renew discussions on possible amendments to the Electoral Act before preparations for future elections gather momentum.
Tuesday’s consultative meeting formed part of INEC’s regular engagement with political parties and other stakeholders to review electoral processes and strengthen democratic governance.
While acknowledging the efforts of the electoral commission and other institutions involved in the process, IPAC maintained that lessons from the 2027 primaries should not be ignored.
The council urged lawmakers, electoral authorities and political actors to work collaboratively toward addressing the gaps identified during the nomination exercise, warning that failure to do so could undermine the credibility of future elections.
As conversations around electoral reform intensify, the position adopted by IPAC is likely to shape broader discussions on how best to balance internal party democracy with the practical realities of conducting transparent, inclusive and efficient candidate nomination processes in Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.