The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has raised concerns over what it described as a growing trend of “elite capture” in Nigeria’s political party primaries, warning that the development is undermining internal democracy and distorting candidate emergence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) quarterly consultative meeting, IPAC Chairman Yusuf Dantalle said recent changes in the Electoral Act 2026—particularly the scrapping of indirect primaries—have unintentionally concentrated power within a narrow circle of party elites, weakening broad-based participation in the selection of candidates.
Dantalle said the removal of indirect primaries has disrupted established internal party structures that previously allowed elected delegates to represent grassroots interests in candidate selection. According to him, the current reliance on direct primaries and consensus arrangements has created openings for behind-the-scenes negotiations, elite bargaining, and imposition of preferred candidates.
He warned that what is emerging is a system where political influence, financial strength, and internal party hierarchy increasingly determine electoral tickets, rather than open and competitive internal processes. This, he said, represents a shift from mass participation within parties to “elite-driven decision-making at the highest levels.”
The IPAC chairman noted that many recent nomination exercises have been characterised by disputes over consensus lists, allegations of exclusion of aspirants, and claims of manipulated internal processes. He said these developments have already triggered internal tensions across political parties, with several disputes escalating into court cases.
Dantalle further argued that direct primaries, while intended to expand participation, have in practice become expensive and logistically burdensome, giving advantage to well-funded political actors and weakening the chances of less influential aspirants. He said this imbalance has further reinforced elite dominance within party structures.
He also pointed to legal uncertainties arising from conflicting judicial interpretations of INEC’s regulatory authority over party primaries, warning that such inconsistencies are adding to instability within the political system and deepening mistrust among stakeholders.
According to him, the cumulative effect of these trends is a weakening of internal party democracy, with broader implications for electoral credibility and political legitimacy in the country. He stressed that when candidate selection is perceived to be controlled by a small elite, public confidence in elections is inevitably undermined.
Dantalle urged the National Assembly to urgently review the Electoral Act 2026 to restore flexibility in the nomination process, insisting that political parties should be allowed to adopt the method that best fits their internal structures, including indirect primaries, direct primaries, or consensus arrangements under clear democratic safeguards.
Looking ahead to the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States and the 2027 general elections, he called for greater transparency within party processes and warned against rising political tensions and violence. He also urged security agencies to remain neutral and professional in the discharge of their duties.
The IPAC chairman reaffirmed the council’s commitment to working with INEC, political parties, the National Assembly, and civil society organisations to strengthen internal party democracy and curb what he described as the “growing concentration of political power within a few hands.”
