Nigeria’s Party Politics: A Tale of Uncontested Primaries
Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) has witnessed a peculiar trend in recent weeks - unopposed primaries in key constituencies across the country. The party’s primary elections, held in Zaria federal constituency of Kaduna and Bende federal constituency of Abia, have seen Speaker Abbas and Deputy Kalu emerge unopposed as the party’s flagbearers. But what does this phenomenon say about Nigeria’s party politics, and what are the implications of this trend?
The affirmation of Speaker Abbas as the party’s flagbearer in Zaria federal constituency was a straightforward affair, with 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards voting in his favour. The same trend was observed in Bende federal constituency of Abia, where the party members across the 13 wards unanimously affirmed the candidacy of Deputy Kalu. While this might seem like a minor development on the surface, it has significant implications for Nigeria’s party politics and the country’s transition to multi-party democracy.
The trend of unopposed primaries in Nigeria is not new, but it has been escalating in recent years. Since the inception of the APC in 2013, the party has been plagued by internal struggles and power struggles, often leading to unopposed primaries. This trend has been more pronounced in northern Nigeria, where the APC has been trying to consolidate its power. The emergence of Speaker Abbas and Deputy Kalu in Zaria and Bende federal constituencies respectively is a continuation of this trend.
Historically, Nigeria’s party politics have been characterised by the dominance of the ruling party. Since the country’s transition to democracy in 1999, the ruling party has always managed to win elections, often with significant margins. The APC’s emergence in 2013 was seen as a threat to the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) dominance, but the trend of unopposed primaries suggests that the ruling party is still in control. This raises questions about the competitiveness of Nigeria’s party politics and the ability of opposition parties to challenge the ruling party’s dominance.
One of the primary reasons for the trend of unopposed primaries in Nigeria is the lack of internal democracy within the APC. The party’s structure and leadership often favour a select few, making it difficult for other aspirants to stand a chance. This has led to a culture of consensus politics, where aspirants are often forced to withdraw in favour of the party’s preferred candidate. The emergence of Speaker Abbas and Deputy Kalu in Zaria and Bende federal constituencies respectively is a testament to this culture.
The APC’s primary elections have also been marred by allegations of vote-buying and manipulation. In recent weeks, several reports have emerged of APC members being bribed to vote in favour of specific candidates. This has led to widespread criticism of the party’s internal workings and has raised questions about the legitimacy of the primaries. The APC’s leadership has been accused of using its resources to influence the outcome of the primaries, further eroding the party’s credibility.
Reactions to the trend of unopposed primaries in Nigeria have been mixed. The APC’s leadership has hailed the emergence of Speaker Abbas and Deputy Kalu as a testament to the party’s strength and popularity. However, opposition parties and civil society groups have raised concerns about the implications of this trend for Nigeria’s democracy. They argue that the trend of unopposed primaries is a sign of the APC’s failure to internalise democratic values and its reluctance to allow opposition parties to compete on a level playing field.
As Nigeria heads into the 2023 general elections, the trend of unopposed primaries is likely to continue. The APC’s leadership has shown no signs of reforming its internal structures or addressing the allegations of vote-buying and manipulation that have plagued its primary elections. This raises questions about the legitimacy of the elections and the ability of opposition parties to challenge the ruling party’s dominance. As Nigeria’s party politics continue to evolve, one thing is clear - the trend of unopposed primaries is a symptom of a larger problem that needs to be addressed if Nigeria is to consolidate its transition to multi-party democracy.
The implications of this trend are far-reaching and will have significant consequences for Nigeria’s democracy. As the country heads into the 2023 general elections, it is essential that the APC’s leadership takes concrete steps to address the allegations of vote-buying and manipulation and to reform its internal structures. Failure to do so will only serve to further erode the party’s credibility and undermine Nigeria’s transition to multi-party democracy.