Nigeria’s electoral process has entered a new phase with the abolition of indirect primaries, commonly known as the delegate system, in the selection of party candidates. This reform follows the signing of the amended Electoral Act by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after its passage by the National Assembly.
For decades, many political parties relied on a limited number of delegates to determine who emerged as candidates. While this system centralized decision-making, critics argued that it encouraged manipulation, elite dominance, and financial inducement, often sidelining the broader party membership.
With the new amendment, indirect primaries have been completely removed as a lawful option. Political parties can no longer depend on delegates to decide candidates at any level.
Two Approved Methods Remain
- Direct Primaries — “One Member, One Vote”
Every registered party member now has the right to participate directly in choosing party candidates. This system expands participation and strengthens internal democracy by giving grassroots members equal voting power.
- Consensus Candidate
Parties may adopt a consensus arrangement only if all aspirants voluntarily agree to step down for a single candidate. The process must be transparent, documented, and free of coercion.
The amendment is widely seen as a deliberate effort to strengthen internal party democracy. By shifting power from a small group of delegates to the wider party membership, the law aims to:
Reduce political imposition and elite dominance
Encourage mass participation by ordinary party members
Promote transparency and accountability
Strengthen the legitimacy of party nominees
Many observers liken the spirit of this reform to the openness of Option A4, where credibility and popular support mattered more than backroom arrangements—though the current system operates within modern party structures.
Implications for Kogi Central Politics
In Kogi Central Senatorial District, the “one member, one vote” framework is expected to significantly reshape party competition, particularly within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
With the delegate system removed, APC primaries are likely to become more competitive and transparent. Aspirants must now appeal directly to party members across wards and local governments, rather than courting a small group of power brokers.
For stakeholders across Okehi, Adavi, and the wider Kogi Central axis, this shift places real political influence in the hands of ordinary members. Mobilization, credibility, grassroots engagement, and service record will now matter more than elite endorsements.
The abolition of indirect primaries marks a structural shift in Nigeria’s political landscape. By institutionalizing “one member, one vote,” the law seeks to make party politics more inclusive, transparent, and accountable—returning real power to party members rather than a privileged delegate class.
Within this new framework, popular and broadly acceptable aspirants such as Chief Momoh Yusuf Obaro and Hon. A. K. Saliu of Okehi stand strong chances against any contender. As the House of Representatives position is expected to rotate to Adavi Local Government Area, compatriots, nationalists, and all who believe in equity and fair distribution of political opportunities must intensify outreach and collective engagement across Kogi Central to ensure justice, balance, and credible representation.
– Comrade Onekata Alimi
Okehi–Adavi–Ajaokuta Movement for Equity & Change (OMEC)
