Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have endorsed the use of multiple options for conducting party primaries, as part of efforts to strengthen internal democracy ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The governors stated this on Thursday after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where deliberations centred on the conduct of primaries, compliance with the Electoral Act, and strategies to promote unity within the party.
Discussions at the meeting highlighted the adoption of both consensus and direct primaries, in line with provisions of the Electoral Act, as the party finalises modalities for selecting its candidates.
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State disclosed that the President had thrown his weight behind the governors’ approach, affirming their authority to determine the mode of primaries in accordance with the law.
“The President has given us the go-ahead to conduct primaries based on the Electoral Act, either through consensus or direct primaries,” Bago said, adding that the meeting also served as an opportunity to reaffirm the President’s support for the party’s internal processes.
Also speaking, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State said the governors reviewed the already released timetable for the primaries, stressing the need for a transparent and credible exercise.
He noted that the party was committed to ensuring free and fair primaries, adding that the process must be carefully managed to prevent internal disputes.
AbdulRazaq further expressed optimism that the APC would emerge stronger from the exercise, with party leaders focused on maintaining cohesion as preparations for the elections intensify.