National Assembly abolish indirect primaries in new Electoral Law
The National Assembly has abolished indirect primaries in the Electoral Act 2026, providing only for direct and consensus primaries as methods for the nomination of candidates by political parties.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by his media office while highlighting key reforms contained in the new law.
Bamidele said section 84(1-2) of the Electoral Act, 2026 now recognises only direct and consensus primaries, thereby phasing out indirect primaries to broaden participation of party members and reduce the influence of money in the process.
He said the new regime introduces safeguards aimed at strengthening internal democracy within political parties.
Under section 77(1-7), Bamidele said, political parties are mandated to maintain a digital register of their members, issue membership cards and submit the register to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions.
His words: “A political party shall not use any other register for party primaries, congresses and conventions than the register submitted to the INEC.
“Besides, any political party that fails to submit the membership register within the stipulated time shall not be eligible to field a candidate for that election. These are indeed consequential restraint measures that will deepen internal democracy and reduce the monetisation of politics in the country.”
The Ekiti lawmaker added that the new electoral framework was the outcome of two years of engagement with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, INEC, Civil Society Organisations and Development Partners.
He said the Electoral Act, 2026 seeks to enhance transparency, strengthen institutional independence and improve accountability in Nigeria’s election management system.
