By Purity Ibiba
The decision by the AllAPC Bets on Direct Democracy as Presidential Primary Nears. The decision by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt a direct primary system for its 2026 presidential primaries has set the stage for what could become one of the most extensive internal political exercises in Nigeria’s democratic history.
By opening the process to all registered party members across the country’s 8,809 wards, the ruling party appears determined to project transparency, widen participation and strengthen legitimacy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The guidelines, released by the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, indicate that the presidential primary will hold on May 24, 2026, with party members voting directly for their preferred presidential aspirants. Unlike indirect primaries, where delegates determine candidates, the direct model shifts decision-making power to the grassroots.
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The move reflects an effort by the APC leadership to deepen internal democracy while reducing the controversies often associated with delegate-based contests.
Under the framework, votes cast at ward level will be collated at local government areas before final transmission to the national collation centre in Abuja. The party said the process would be supervised in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory by appointed state coordinators and collation officers.
Political observers note that the direct primary approach carries both political and logistical implications. On one hand, it broadens participation and may enhance acceptance of the eventual candidate among party faithful. On the other, organising simultaneous voting across thousands of wards presents enormous administrative and security challenges.
To drive the process, the APC constituted a Presidential Primary Election Committee headed by former Senate President Senator Pius Anyim. The committee includes prominent political figures such as former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, former deputy governor Grace Titi Laoye-Ponle, Yakubu Dogara and Idris Wada, with Senator Sanusi Musa serving as secretary.
The party also established a Presidential Primary Election Appeal Committee headed by former Senate Leader Senator Ali Ndume, with Samuel Pwajok as secretary and Patricia Etteh as a member.
Beyond the committees, attention has shifted to the calibre of political figures appointed to coordinate the exercise nationwide.
Several serving and former governors were assigned supervisory roles in different states, a development that underscores the significance the APC attaches to the primary. Among those named are Governor Siminalayi Fubara for Rivers, Hope Uzodimma for Imo, Umo Eno for Akwa Ibom, Douye Diri for Bayelsa, Hyacinth Alia for Benue and Babagana Zulum for Borno.
Others include Sheriff Oborevwori for Delta, Francis Nwifuru for Ebonyi, Monday Okpebholo for Edo, Peter Mbah for Enugu, Umar Namadi for Jigawa, Uba Sani for Kaduna and Babajide Sanwo-Olu for Lagos.
Governors Mohammed Umar Bago, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Caleb Mutfwang, Agbu Kefas and Dauda Lawal, alongside former Osun governor Adegboyega Oyetola, were also listed among coordinators and collation officers.
The appointment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has particularly drawn attention, coming shortly after his withdrawal from the governorship primary of the party. Analysts believe his inclusion signals the party’s effort to deploy influential political actors to ensure credibility and effective coordination.
According to the APC guidelines, state coordinators will oversee the conduct of the direct primary and collate local government results before presenting them to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja.
The party further stated that previously issued procedures on the conduct of direct and consensus primaries, already forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 15, 2026, would apply to the presidential contest.
As May 24 approaches, the APC’s embrace of direct primaries is expected to test not only the party’s organisational capacity but also its commitment to grassroots-driven leadership selection. The outcome may shape both the party’s internal cohesion and the broader political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections. Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt a direct primary system for its 2026 presidential primaries has set the stage for what could become one of the most extensive internal political exercises in Nigeria’s democratic history.
By opening the process to all registered party members across the country’s 8,809 wards, the ruling party appears determined to project transparency, widen participation and strengthen legitimacy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The guidelines, released by the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, indicate that the presidential primary will hold on May 24, 2026, with party members voting directly for their preferred presidential aspirants. Unlike indirect primaries, where delegates determine candidates, the direct model shifts decision-making power to the grassroots.
The move reflects an effort by the APC leadership to deepen internal democracy while reducing the controversies often associated with delegate-based contests.
Under the framework, votes cast at ward level will be collated at local government areas before final transmission to the national collation centre in Abuja. The party said the process would be supervised in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory by appointed state coordinators and collation officers.
Political observers note that the direct primary approach carries both political and logistical implications. On one hand, it broadens participation and may enhance acceptance of the eventual candidate among party faithful. On the other, organising simultaneous voting across thousands of wards presents enormous administrative and security challenges.
To drive the process, the APC constituted a Presidential Primary Election Committee headed by former Senate President Senator Pius Anyim. The committee includes prominent political figures such as former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, former deputy governor Grace Titi Laoye-Ponle, Yakubu Dogara and Idris Wada, with Senator Sanusi Musa serving as secretary.
The party also established a Presidential Primary Election Appeal Committee headed by former Senate Leader Senator Ali Ndume, with Samuel Pwajok as secretary and Patricia Etteh as a member.
Beyond the committees, attention has shifted to the calibre of political figures appointed to coordinate the exercise nationwide.
Several serving and former governors were assigned supervisory roles in different states, a development that underscores the significance the APC attaches to the primary. Among those named are Governor Siminalayi Fubara for Rivers, Hope Uzodimma for Imo, Umo Eno for Akwa Ibom, Douye Diri for Bayelsa, Hyacinth Alia for Benue and Babagana Zulum for Borno.
Others include Sheriff Oborevwori for Delta, Francis Nwifuru for Ebonyi, Monday Okpebholo for Edo, Peter Mbah for Enugu, Umar Namadi for Jigawa, Uba Sani for Kaduna and Babajide Sanwo-Olu for Lagos.
Governors Mohammed Umar Bago, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Caleb Mutfwang, Agbu Kefas and Dauda Lawal, alongside former Osun governor Adegboyega Oyetola, were also listed among coordinators and collation officers.
The appointment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has particularly drawn attention, coming shortly after his withdrawal from the governorship primary of the party. Analysts believe his inclusion signals the party’s effort to deploy influential political actors to ensure credibility and effective coordination.
According to the APC guidelines, state coordinators will oversee the conduct of the direct primary and collate local government results before presenting them to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja.
The party further stated that previously issued procedures on the conduct of direct and consensus primaries, already forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 15, 2026, would apply to the presidential contest.
As May 24 approaches, the APC’s embrace of direct primaries is expected to test not only the party’s organisational capacity but also its commitment to grassroots-driven leadership selection. The outcome may shape both the party’s internal cohesion and the broader political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
