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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the nation’s electoral process by advising a shift in the timetable for political party primaries to September, in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Hashim, in a letter to the President, stated that Section 29(1) of the amended Electoral Act provides a window for parties to conduct their primaries up to mid-September.
He contended that adherence to this timeline would enhance transparency, inclusiveness and fairness in the electoral process and warned that the rush towards early primaries could undermine internal democracy in political parties and weaken the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) had scheduled the conduct of primaries for nomination of candidates for the 2027 polls from April 23 to May 30.
However, Hashim noted that compressing the primary election process could fuel disputes within parties, disenfranchise aspirants, and ultimately, diminish public confidence in the electoral system.
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According to him, “The current timetable constricts the latitude of political parties to conduct their primaries. There is a need to allow sufficient time, as envisaged by law, for parties to organise credible and participatory primaries.”
He stated that there was need to guard against actions that may lead to a non-competitive electoral environment, warning that such a trend poses serious risks to the country’s democratic stability.
He implored the President to promote reforms that would strengthen electoral credibility, including a review of contentious provisions in the Electoral Act and measures to ensure a level playing field for all political actors.
“That you advise the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to step aside to allow for the reconstitution of a broadly credible electoral commission to oversee the forthcoming elections,” he stated.
He insisted that adjusting the timetable to align with the Electoral Act would demonstrate commitment to due process and help avert avoidable political disputes ahead of the polls.
