By Abasi Ita
President Bola Tinubu has directed governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress to conduct free, fair, and rancour free primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the process must strengthen rather than divide the party.
The president gave the directive during a closed door meeting with APC governors at the State House in Abuja.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the president issued a clear mandate to the governors.
“He gave us a marching order on what to do. The primaries must be conducted in line with the Electoral Act and in a way that preserves the unity of the party,” he said.
AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors Forum, added that the president approved the use of either consensus or direct primaries.
“He has ceded the process to the governors to conduct primaries based on the Electoral Act, either through consensus or direct primaries,” he stated.
Also speaking, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago said the president reaffirmed his support for the process and endorsed the timetable for the exercise.
“He has given us the go ahead. We discussed how to ensure free and fair elections without rancour so that the party will come out stronger,” Bago said.
He added, “The intention is clear. At the end of the primaries, the APC should be stronger than ever heading into the general elections.”
No fewer than 18 governors attended the meeting, including Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum Hope Uzodimma, alongside governors from Gombe, Borno, Benue, Ekiti and Enugu states, while some states were represented by their deputies.
Meanwhile, the APC has released a revised timetable for its primaries. The party fixed May 25 for the presidential primary and May 23 for the governorship primary.
The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Durosinmi Meseko, said the changes had been communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission in compliance with regulations.
“Sale of forms will begin on April 25 and close on May 2, while submission of completed forms is slated for May 4,” Meseko said.
He added, “Screening of aspirants will hold from May 6 to May 8, while presidential aspirants will be screened on May 9. Publication of results will follow on May 11, with appeals scheduled for May 12 and May 13.”
Meseko further disclosed that primaries for the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly would take place between May 18 and May 21.
“We are confident that this timetable will ensure a smooth, transparent and credible primary process across the country,” he stated.