Direct and Indirect Primaries: What APC Members Should Know

Last checked: 14 October 2026. This article explains direct and indirect primaries and what APC members should know about them under current law. It is civic education, not legal advice, and the details of the law can be interpreted differently.

Direct and indirect primaries are two ways a party can choose its candidates, and the difference matters to every APC member. In one, ordinary members vote. In the other, chosen delegates vote on their behalf. Nigeria’s law has changed recently, so it is worth knowing what is allowed now and what was allowed before.

What is a direct primary?

In a direct primary, registered party members vote for aspirants themselves, usually at polling points in wards. Every eligible member has the same chance to take part. The APC’s 2026 presidential primary was of this type: it ran across 8,809 wards in all 774 local government areas, with 11,015,665 votes cast according to reported figures.

What is an indirect primary?

In an indirect primary, members first choose delegates, and the delegates then vote for candidates at a convention or special meeting. This was a common method in Nigerian politics. The APC used it in June 2022 to choose its presidential candidate, when delegates chose Bola Tinubu over rivals such as Rotimi Amaechi and Yemi Osinbajo.

What is consensus?

A consensus arrangement means aspirants and stakeholders agree on a single candidate without a vote. It can reduce conflict and cost, but it can also be criticised if some aspirants feel pressured to step down. The APC’s 2026 rules allowed consensus, with direct primaries as the fallback if consensus failed or an aspirant rejected it.

Related link: Read more here

What the law says now

The Electoral Act 2022 gave parties more choice, including indirect primaries. The Electoral Act 2026, signed on 18 February 2026, changed that. According to Daily Times and a Legal 500 article by Olisa Agbakoba Legal, Section 84(2) says parties must choose candidates exclusively through direct primaries or consensus. Those sources describe this as ending the delegate-based indirect system. One legal summary also mentioned limits on political appointees acting as delegates, which shows that reports about the details vary, so members should read the Act or ask a lawyer.

Why the law changed

Supporters of direct primaries argue that delegates can be influenced with money, which narrows democracy to a small group. Direct primaries give grassroots members more say. Critics point out that they are more costly and harder to organise, and they depend on an accurate membership register. Each method carries risks.

Comparing the two

• Who votes: all registered members in direct primaries; delegates in indirect primaries.
• Cost: direct primaries need more polling points and staff; indirect primaries cost less to run but can involve heavy spending on delegates.
• Risk: direct primaries risk register disputes and violence at wards; indirect primaries risk vote-buying among a small group.
• Participation: far wider in direct primaries.

The role of the membership register

Because direct primaries rely on members, the register is critical. Section 77 of the 2026 Act, as reported, requires parties to submit a digital register to INEC at least 21 days before primaries, and only people on it can vote or contest. On 24 September 2026 the Supreme Court addressed this in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party. The APC says the court confirmed the section is mandatory and has asked INEC to enforce it. We relied on the party’s account of the ruling, so readers should check the judgment.

What APC members should do

• Check that your name and details are on the register your ward submitted.
• Learn the primary timetable for your state and the mode chosen.
• Know where your voting point is, and bring any identification required.
• Report concerns through the party and, if needed, through the courts.

What if you are an aspirant?

Read the party’s guidelines carefully, keep proof of your membership and your payments, and understand the appeals process. Remember that, as reported, courts cannot stop a primary while a suit is pending, so waiting for a court to fix problems may not work.

What we could not confirm

• The exact wording of Section 84 and any exceptions, which we did not read in the Act itself.
• The text of the 24 September 2026 Supreme Court judgment.

Frequently asked questions

Are indirect primaries still allowed? Reports of the 2026 Act say candidates must be chosen through direct primaries or consensus only.

Which mode did the APC use for the presidency? A direct primary in May 2026.

What if consensus fails? The APC’s rules revert to direct primaries.

Key takeaways

Direct primaries let members vote; indirect primaries used delegates and were common until the 2026 Act. Under current reported law, parties use direct primaries or consensus, and an accurate register is essential.

Sources checked

• Daily Times, key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026
• Legal 500, Olisa Agbakoba Legal, analysis of the Electoral Act 2026, 19 March 2026
• Premium Times, APC revised 2027 timetable, 24 April 2026
• Channels TV, APC presidential primary result, 24 May 2026
• VON, APC urges INEC to enforce Supreme Court ruling, September 2026