By Okoi Obono-Obla
Safeguarding Internal Democracy in Cross River APC:
As a conscientious Nigerian and advocate for good governance and democratic ethos, I wish to advise the Cross River State All Progressives Congress (APC) not to yield to any pressure from any quarters to bypass primaries by simply writing the names of favoured aspirants and forwarding them to INEC or the National Secretariat. If such an insidious act occurs, the Party must be prepared for the consequences, including objections to INEC not to accept the names of those handpicked individuals. Ultimately, APC risks not having candidates in the 2026 general elections.
The Electoral Act 2026 empowers INEC under Section 29(1) and Section 84 to reject names of candidates submitted by political parties that did not conduct valid primaries. Specifically:
– Section 29(1): Submission of Candidates
– Political parties must submit to INEC the list of candidates who emerged from their primaries, along with sworn affidavits.
– If a party fails to conduct primaries, INEC cannot accept any names from that party.
– Section 84: Conduct of Primaries
– Only direct primaries (all members voting) or consensus (aspirants voluntarily stepping down) are recognized.
– Indirect delegate primaries were abolished in 2026.
– INEC has oversight powers to monitor and validate that primaries were conducted according to the law.
– Sections 30 & 35: Prohibition of Double Nomination / Invalidity of Multiple Nomination
– These reinforce that only candidates validly nominated through primaries can be submitted.
Why This Matters:
– Legal safeguard: Prevents political parties from arbitrarily submitting names without democratic processes.
– Strengthens internal democracy: Ensures candidates are chosen transparently by party members.
– INEC’s authority: INEC is not just a passive recipient of names; it has the power to reject submissions that violate the Act.
– Judicial backing: Courts have consistently upheld INEC’s authority, emphasizing that compliance with the Electoral Act is mandatory.
For the 2027 elections, no candidate can appear on the ballot without proof of valid primaries monitored by INEC. If APC or any party skips primaries and submits names, INEC will reject them outright, leaving the party without candidates.
Conclusion:
The APC in Cross River State must resist any temptation to undermine internal democracy. Conducting transparent primaries is not only a legal requirement but also a moral obligation to party members and the electorate. Failure to comply will result in exclusion from the ballot, a consequence no serious political party should risk.
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