This development points to a familiar tension within Nigerian party politics, the trade-off between internal cohesion and internal democracy.
By empowering governors to determine the fate of aspirants, the APC leadership appears to be prioritising control and stability ahead of a potentially contentious primary season. In the short term, this may reduce open conflict within the party and streamline candidate selection.
However, it also concentrates significant power in the hands of state executives, which raises concerns about fairness, inclusiveness, and the extent to which grassroots party members can genuinely influence outcomes.
The unease among federal lawmakers further illustrates the risks of such an arrangement. It exposes a deeper political culture where loyalty to power centers is often prioritised over direct engagement with constituents or party structures.
For many Nigerians, this reinforces the perception that candidate selection is less about merit or public support and more about elite negotiation.
The recommendation here is that while parties may seek unity, it should not come at the expense of transparent and competitive primaries.
Strengthening internal democratic processes, rather than centralising decision-making, will be critical if parties hope to maintain credibility and public trust going into the 2027 elections.
