Senate Leader Introduces Direct Primaries to Curb Vote-Buying

Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate leader, disclosed that the introduction of direct primaries and consensus arrangements in the Electoral Act 2026 aims to curb vote-buying and align Nigeria's electoral framework with global democratic standards. This announcement was made during an Easter message in Abuja.

Bamidele clarified that the provisions were not imposed by the National Assembly but were the result of broad stakeholder engagement, including civil society groups and development partners. He dismissed accusations from the African Democratic Congress that these changes would weaken the chances against ruling parties in the 2027 elections.

The new electoral regime is designed to dismantle the delegate system often associated with manipulation and to ensure transparency in candidate nominations. Additionally, the Act requires political parties to submit a digital register of their members to the Independent National Electoral Commission, reinforcing the need for transparency and preventing individual power from hijacking party decisions.

Bamidele condemned recent attacks in Plateau and Kaduna states, emphasizing legislative efforts to tackle insecurity.