As Nigeria’s political heavyweights begin to align their strategies for the 2027 general elections, a powerful and pervasive demand is echoing across the federation: the return to direct primaries. From the arid plains of Bauchi to the industrial hubs of Ogun and the coastal reaches of Bayelsa, rank-and-file party members are increasingly rejecting the consensus arrangements often orchestrated by state governors. This growing agitation is forcing major political parties, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to reconsider their internal democratic processes or risk catastrophic fractures within their ranks. The tension has moved beyond mere rhetoric, manifesting in public protests, heated administrative disputes, and legal threats. At the heart of the conflict is a fundamental question of power: who should decide a party’s candidate—a handful of influential power brokers in a government house, or the registered members at the ward level? As the 2027 season intensifies, it appears the major parties may have no choice but to bow to the mounting pressure.
The push for direct primaries is fueled by a series of high-profile consensus failures that have created bad blood among party elites. In Nasarawa State, the political atmosphere is particularly volatile. Former Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu has vehemently rejected Governor Abdullahi Sule’s endorsement of Senator Ahmed Wadada as his preferred successor. Supporters of the former IGP have staged multiple protests in the state capital, Lafia, arguing that the Governor’s preference is a blatant attempt to deny Adamu his right to test his popularity. They maintain that only a direct primary can provide the level playing field necessary for a credible outcome. Ogun State serves as another major flashpoint. The state chapter of the APC is currently embroiled in a bitter struggle over Governor Dapo Abiodun’s insistence on consensus. The friction reached a boiling point when former Governor Gbenga Daniel was reportedly locked out of a stakeholders' meeting intended to select a candidate for the Ogun East Senatorial District—a seat for which both Daniel and the Governor are currently locked in a struggle. While the party leadership managed to rally support for Senator Solomon Adeola as the governorship candidate, the senatorial tickets for Ogun East and Ogun Central remain deeply contested. With heavyweights like former Governor Ibikunle Amosun and incumbent Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu in the mix, the rejection of consensus has sparked resentment in strategic political blocs across the state.
The situation in Edo State is equally precarious. Aspirants for federal and state legislative seats have openly revolted against consensus talks. Their argument is pragmatic as much as it is democratic: many have already paid N6 million each for nomination and expression of interest forms. Having made such a significant financial commitment, they are in no mood to step down for anointed candidates. Tensions are particularly high in Edo South, where Governor Monday Okpebholo is allegedly backing Hon. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, much to the chagrin of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and incumbent Senator Neda Imasuen. While other states struggle, Bauchi has seemingly found a path forward by embracing the members' demands. During an expanded stakeholders' meeting involving federal legislators, former governors, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, the Bauchi APC resolved to abandon consensus entirely. A party source revealed that the decision was a strategic move to avoid the internal crises that hobbled the party in previous cycles. The feeling among stakeholders is that direct primaries will give every aspirant equal opportunity and make the process more credible because the outcome will be visible to everyone, the source stated. By allowing registered members to vote directly for their preferred candidates, the party hopes to ensure that those with genuine grassroots support emerge, thereby strengthening internal democracy and reducing post-primary disputes.
The shift toward direct primaries is not just a local phenomenon; it is being supported by the Presidential Supervision Team. The team has recommended the adoption of direct primaries in any instance where a consensus cannot be achieved with the written consent of all cleared aspirants. This recommendation aligns with Section 87(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which serves as a legal safeguard against forced consensus. Even in Lagos, where the political climate remains relatively calm following the wide endorsement of Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat for the governorship race, the spirit of competition remains alive. Speaking in Abuja after his screening, Hamzat expressed his readiness for a primary contest. Ultimately, the decision rests with party members and the people, he noted, signaling that even anointed candidates recognize the necessity of democratic validation. In Kano, the political chess match is equally complex. While Governor Abba Yusuf has secured a second-term endorsement, the battle for senatorial tickets is fierce. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau is being challenged for the Kano North ticket by former Deputy Governor Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo. In Kano Central, a three-way battle looms between AA Zaura, former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, and Alhaji Shaman Sharada. Protests have already broken out in Kano, with youth groups demanding that the party reward loyalty rather than handing tickets to recent returnees like Shekarau.
Kaduna State is also feeling the heat. While some aspirants stepped down for former Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero in Kaduna North, other zones remain fractured. In Kaduna Central, the endorsement of former Senator Shehu Sani has triggered resistance from former Speaker Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani and youth leader Yerima Shettima, who insist on a transparent primary. The consequences of ignoring these demands are already becoming clear. In Katsina State, where the party attempted to move forward with consensus, Engineer Tafoki—who was excluded from the arrangement for his federal constituency—immediately defected to the PDP, which promptly handed him its ticket. Such poaching of disgruntled aspirants is a threat that party leaders can no longer ignore. As these local battles rage, the APC National Working Committee has been busy screening high-profile aspirants. Among those cleared are Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Prof. Isa Pantami, and Yusuf Buhari, the son of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. Prof. Pantami, seeking the Gombe governorship, echoed the growing sentiment for fairness. Internal democracy and internal justice are very important for the survival of democracy in Nigeria, he said, pointedly dismissing reports of a consensus in the Gombe chapter.
On the national front, APC Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and Governor Hope Uzodimma addressed the recent move by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to zone its presidency to the South. Both leaders appeared unperturbed, characterizing the NDC’s growth as a sign of the opposition fighting itself. Yilwatda noted that while 17 legislators recently defected to the NDC, the APC remains the most prepared party with control over 31 states. Performance is not on TV... it is on the field during election, Yilwatda remarked, dismissing the threat of the new coalition. The APC is not the only party navigating these waters. The Social Democratic Party recently held its national convention in Bauchi, where Prince Adewole Adebayo was returned unopposed as the presidential candidate through a voice-vote system. Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress is preparing for a major moment as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is scheduled to present his presidential nomination forms tomorrow. In a move to consolidate its own power, the Labour Party handed a free governorship nomination form to Abia State Governor Alex Otti. LP National Chairman Senator Nenadi Usman described Otti as the poster boy of the party, rewarding his performance with an automatic ticket to seek a fresh mandate.
The trend is clear: the era of the smoke-filled room is under siege. Whether motivated by a genuine desire for democratic reform or a pragmatic need to prevent mass defections, Nigeria’s major parties are being forced to return power to the people. As the direct primary agitation grows, the success or failure of the 2027 elections may well depend on how effectively these parties manage the transition from selection by elites to election by members. As the political season enters its most critical phase, do you believe the adoption of direct primaries will truly empower the Nigerian grassroots, or will the consensus model simply find new, more covert ways to persist under the influence of powerful governors?
