Ogona Anita
Barely a week after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the 2026 Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, cracks have begun to surface within the ruling party, as governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) privately voice dissatisfaction over the removal of the indirect primary system from the new legislation.
Multiple sources within the party disclosed that several APC governors feel sidelined and “ambushed” by federal lawmakers who spearheaded the amendment process and secured the President’s swift assent without what they consider adequate consultation with key stakeholders at the state level.
“We feel frustrated and ambushed,” a prominent South East APC governor was quoted as telling an ally of the President in Abuja on Sunday. According to insiders, the governor, accompanied by a counterpart from the South West, met with close associates of the President to register their reservations about the new law, particularly the decision to eliminate the indirect primary option.
A Major Shift in Party Power Dynamics
Section 84 of the newly amended Electoral Act 2026 now prescribes only direct primaries and consensus as the approved methods for political parties to nominate candidates for elective offices. This marks a significant departure from Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, which allowed political parties to adopt direct, indirect, or consensus modes of primary elections.
The indirect primary system—commonly referred to as the delegate system—has historically been a powerful political tool in the hands of state governors. Under this model, party delegates, often influenced or selected by governors and state party executives, vote to determine candidates. The system has long been seen as enabling governors to shape party structures and influence the emergence of candidates, particularly for National Assembly seats and other key offices.
By scrapping the indirect option, the new law is widely perceived as significantly reducing the leverage governors wield over party nominations.
A credible source close to one of the governors confided that the speed with which the amendment was passed and signed left many governors feeling blindsided.
“All the governors elected on the platform of the APC are committed to complementing the efforts of our leader and President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the source said. “But the last few days have come like an ambush. They are getting frustrated that the President appears to be listening more to some lawmakers than to the governors.”
The source added that while the governors remain loyal to the President and the party, they are “pained” that the Electoral Bill was signed despite earlier reservations they had communicated, especially concerning provisions affecting the nomination of National Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Concerns Ahead of 2027 Elections
With the 2027 elections on the horizon, internal party alignments are already taking shape. Governors, who are key mobilizers at the grassroots level, argue that they possess a better understanding of local political dynamics and electability factors.
“They know the people at the grassroots better than those advising the President to go for direct rather than indirect primaries,” the source continued. “Their initial plan was to ensure that only electable candidates emerge, but now the dynamics have changed.”
Some party insiders believe that influential federal lawmakers pushed for the removal of the indirect mode out of fear that governors might use the delegate system to edge out sitting lawmakers seeking re-election. By mandating direct primaries, where all registered party members vote, the balance of power may tilt away from state executives toward broader party membership and, arguably, national party leadership structures.
Direct primaries, while often praised for promoting internal democracy, have also faced criticism over logistical challenges, cost implications, and susceptibility to manipulation through inflated membership registers.
Uzodimma Dismisses Claims of Discontent
In response to the swirling reports of discontent, the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, dismissed the notion that governors were outmaneuvered or disgruntled over the legislative changes.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Hon. Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma described the amendment as a purely legislative matter, emphasizing that the process followed constitutional procedures.
“The legislators deliberated on it and arrived at a compromise, which the President accented into law,” he said. “As responsible and responsive party members, we are loyal to every decision of the party.”
Uzodimma stressed that the lawmakers acted in the national interest and that governors have “no reason to feel outwitted,” adding that the amendments were enacted for the “well-being and overall good and benefit of the populace.”
His remarks appear aimed at calming tensions within the party and projecting unity amid growing speculation about internal divisions.
Controversies Surrounding the Act
President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 into law last Wednesday at a brief ceremony held at the Presidential Villa. The event was attended by top government officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The two chambers of the National Assembly of Nigeria had passed the bill after months of debate and deliberations. Although the legislation contains about 154 clauses, Clause 60—which makes the electronic transmission of election results optional—sparked the most intense public debate.
Initially, the House of Representatives had passed a version mandating the electronic transmission of results directly from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV). However, the final version signed into law made electronic transmission discretionary rather than compulsory, drawing criticism from civil society groups and sections of the electorate who see mandatory electronic transmission as critical to electoral transparency.
Balancing Party Loyalty and Political Interests
Despite the public assurances of unity, analysts say the removal of indirect primaries represents a significant recalibration of power within the APC. Governors, long considered the backbone of party structures in their respective states, may now need to rethink their strategies for influencing candidate selection.
For President Tinubu, the decision to assent to the bill despite reported pushback suggests a willingness to prioritize legislative consensus and perhaps broader electoral reforms over intra-party bargaining.
Whether the shift to direct and consensus primaries strengthens internal democracy within the APC or deepens internal tensions remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the 2026 Electoral Act has already begun reshaping the political landscape ahead of 2027, setting the stage for a potentially intense contest not just between parties, but within them.
As the dust settles, party leaders will likely intensify consultations to prevent lingering grievances from escalating into open factional rifts. For now, the official line from the APC Governors’ Forum is one of loyalty and national interest—but beneath the surface, the recalibration of power has unmistakably altered the dynamics of Nigeria’s ruling party.
