Nigeria’s political parties are continuing to select candidates to fill elective positions in the 2023 general elections. The 18 political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are expected to produce candidates for the office of President, Governor, National and State legislative seats. While the presidential nominations dominate the news, party primaries to produce candidates for the other positions have been ongoing. Two of the most prominent political parties – the ruling all Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are very much in focus during this period of the primaries. The PDP is way ahead in concluding its primaries. Its presidential primaries produced former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in a keen contest that saw him beat his closest rival, Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State by 371 to 237 votes. Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal had withdrawn from the contest and handed over his supporters to boost Atiku’s chances. Observers of the PDP presidential primaries however worry about allegations of widespread payment of delegates. The use of monies across the primaries of political parties seems to be a major concern, clearly raising even further concern about the influence of money in Nigeria’s elections.
The ruling party, APC is however yet to produce its candidate for Presidency. Its presidential primaries earlier scheduled for May 29 and 30 was postponed by one week. Apparently, getting wind of INEC’s extension of its deadline for party primaries by the same period. INEC had shifted its timelines after it said that it acted in response to the plea made on behalf of political parties by the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which had claimed that the parties needed more time to meet up with completion of their primaries. INEC’s extension went against earlier vehement statements issued by it, to the effect that it would not extend the deadline for conclusion of party primaries. According to INEC, the deadline is “firm and fixed.”
Civil society organisations have however criticised the extension of the primaries deadline by INEC. The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in its statement noted that:
“Turning around and extending the date meant that political parties that were lagging behind in their preparations for the primaries were now gifted with the advantage of better preparation that the earlier given date denied the other political parties. INEC should be seen to give level playing ground for all parties involved in any election.”
Indeed, the big concern for Nigeria’s election watchers is how to insulate INEC from the pressures and manipulations of political parties ahead of the 2023 general elections.