…Tailored To Suit President Tinubu
…Undermine Party Autonomy
Former National Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, Chief Peter Ameh has condemned the recent decision by the National Assembly to strike out indirect primaries from the Electoral Act 2026.2.21
Ameh said this decision that limits political parties to only direct primaries or consensus, alongside other contentious provisions, represents a deeply troubling development for Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement made available to VDCInsights read in part “I write with profound concern and dismay over the provisions embedded in the newly signed Electoral Act 2026, particularly the abolition of indirect primaries, the drastic reduction in campaign periods, the shortened timeline for political party primaries, and the cut in the release of funds to INEC from 12 months to 6 months before elections.”
He stated “This legislation appears crafted not in the interest of broader democratic participation and fairness, but to serve the narrow ambitions of a single individual—President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT)—and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”
Ameh argued that “By mandating direct primaries as the primary mode (with consensus as a restrictive alternative requiring unanimous written approval), the law effectively centralizes control of candidate selection in the hands of the national leadership in Abuja, specifically from the Villa”.
He stressed “This removes the flexibility that indirect primaries provided to parties, allowing grassroots and state-level influence through delegates, and instead empowers a few to dictate outcomes nationwide.”
The former IPAC National chairman posited “The shift to direct primaries will not enhance internal democracy as claimed; rather, it will make primaries prohibitively expensive and logistically challenging for many aspirants and parties”
He further argued that the resort to direct primaries will give “the incumbent administration undue leverage to influence or manipulate membership registers and voting processes from the center, adding “This is a clear attempt to consolidate power within the APC and weaken opposition parties.”
Ameh further stated “the reduction of campaign periods and the adjustment of timelines for primaries severely disadvantage opposition parties and independent-minded aspirants, tilting the playing field heavily in favor of the ruling party and its preferred candidates.”
According to him,”The shortening of the period for releasing funds to INEC from 12 months to 6 months undermines the Commission’s ability to prepare adequately for elections, reversing a provision designed to ensure early and sufficient funding for credible polls.”
Ameh further said “Most alarmingly, these changes constitute legislative overreach into the internal affairs of political parties, as the 1999 Constitution (as amended) assigns political parties the autonomy to manage their internal processes, including candidate nomination procedures.”
“Provisions that dictate only direct primaries or consensus encroach on this constitutional domain and may be ultra vires, arguing that political parties should determine their own methods best suited to their structures and members.”
Ameh urged all political parties, civil society organizations, and concerned Nigerians to challenge the questionable provisions of this Act in the courts without delay.”
He stressed “Some clauses appear to infringe on the exclusive functions of political parties as guaranteed by the Constitution, and judicial scrutiny is essential to safeguard our democracy.”
He concluded “Nigeria deserves an electoral framework that promotes inclusivity, fairness, and true internal party democracy—not one engineered to entrench incumbency and control from the center,” adding “Let us defend the integrity of our political process and the sovereignty of our parties.”
