Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader, says the 2026 Electoral Act will curb the influence of wealthy political actors in party primaries.
He added that the new law, which limits the nomination of
candidates to direct primaries or consensus, is aimed at strengthening internal
democracy within political parties.
The Senate leader shared this on Easter Sunday in a
statement issued by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in his office.
Bamidele, who served on the Senate committee on electoral
matters, said the legislation was the outcome of consultations with
stakeholders and not unilateral decisions by the national assembly.
He was reacting to allegations by opposition parties,
particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), that provisions of the
electoral act were introduced to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027
elections.
The opposition had criticised section 77(1–7) of the act,
which requires political parties to submit a digital register of members to the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They also faulted section 84(1–3), which restricts the
procedure for the nomination of candidates to direct primaries or consensus.
Bamidele said the provision on direct primaries was
deliberately introduced to prevent the delegate system from being manipulated.
“The provision is intentional and not self-serving,” he
said.
“It aims at ending a delegate system that compromises the
interests of the majority and strengthens the arms of the moneybags to hijack
the primaries.”
He said the reform is intended to give ordinary party members greater control over the nomination of candidates.
“With the new system, we hope all party members can
participate in the nomination of candidates for all elective positions
transparently,” he said.
“The final decision is now in the hands of party members. It
is no longer a process where aspirants openly display cash at the venues of
party primaries to compromise delegates.”
Bamidele also defended the provision requiring political
parties to maintain a digital membership register.
He said the measure is consistent with global democratic
standards and would promote transparency in party administration.
“The register is to prevent powerful individuals, who are
unknown to a political party, from hijacking its decision-making process,” he
said.
Bamidele added that political actors should respect the
rules governing the country’s electoral system.
He also condemned recent armed attacks in Plateau and Kaduna
states, urging Nigerians to emulate the virtues of sacrifice and tolerance
associated with the Easter season.
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