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I Will Sign Electoral Bill If NASS Includes Consensus Candidates, Indirect Primaries – Buhari

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President Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari
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President Muhammadu Buhari has stated his readiness to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill after the National Assembly makes the necessary adjustments.

He, however, said such changes must include the addition of consensus candidates, indirect primary options to the mode of selecting a candidate for an election, as against the initial direct mode as the only option to conduct primaries by political parties.

The President made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with Channels Television’s Maupe Ogun and Seun Okinbaloye, which aired on Wednesday.
“All I said (is that) there should be options,” he said. “We must not insist that it has to be direct; it should be consensus and indirect.”

Asked if he would sign if the lawmakers effect the change in that direction, he affirmed, “Yes, I will! I will sign.
“There should be options, you can’t dictate to people and say you are doing democracy. Give them other options so they can make a choice.”

‘Why They Lost’

President Buhari had withheld his assent to the bill, citing the cost of conducting direct primary elections, security challenges, and possible manipulation of electoral processes by political actors as part of the reasons for his decision.

In their reaction, lawmakers in the House of Representatives could not immediately take an action but they said they would adequately address the matter in January.

During a plenary in December, Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, had explained that the time was short to address such a sensitive issue.

At the upper chamber, the Senate also resolved to consult with the House of Representatives in January when both chambers would be in session.

While the lawmakers have yet to resume from recess or deliberate on the bill, President Buhari said it was wrong to force an option on the people.

Stressing the importance of allowing people to choose from available options, he relived the events that led to his election into office and ended the 16 years rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

“Personally, I do not support direct primary because I want people to be given a choice,” the President stated. “You can’t give them one option and think that you are being democratic.

Let them have three options – there is the consensus.

“PDP was so overconfident that they thought they would rule Nigeria till the end of time, but the opposition (parties) came together, and we overthrew them. Not as a result of direct primary, it is as a result of opposition parties coming together and fighting the PDP.

“It is because we agreed to come together. The fact that we came together gave us the success we had, and that was the mistake they made; that is why they lost.”

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City Boy Movement Calls for Peace Ahead of APC Primaries in Ekiti

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The City Boy Movement has appealed to aspirants, party leaders and supporters participating in the All Progressives Congress (APC) National and State Assembly primary elections in Ekiti State to embrace peace and shun violence during the exercise.

 

 

In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Friday by the Director of Media and Communications of the movement, Alofe Ayodele Moses, the group urged all stakeholders to conduct themselves with restraint and maturity as the primaries commence.

 

 

The movement stressed the need to preserve the peaceful atmosphere currently being enjoyed in the state under the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, noting that no political ambition should lead to bloodshed or crisis within the party.

 

 

According to the statement, the APC was founded on the principles of justice and equity, expressing confidence in the party leadership to conduct a fair, transparent and credible primary election.

 

 

The group stated that democracy thrives on healthy competition rather than intimidation, violence or desperation, adding that all aspirants and their supporters should place the collective interest of the party above personal ambitions.

 

 

The City Boy Movement also urged contestants and their supporters to peacefully accept the outcome of the primaries and avoid actions capable of overheating the political atmosphere in the state.

 

 

 

It further called on security agencies and party officials to remain proactive and impartial in maintaining law and order before, during and after the exercise.

 

 

 

The statement added that temporary political differences should not be allowed to divide members of the party, stressing that all stakeholders remain part of the same progressive family despite the contest.

 

 

 

The movement wished all aspirants success in the primaries and expressed optimism that the exercise would strengthen the unity, stability and electoral fortunes of the APC in Ekiti State.

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Ekiti Police, INEC Meet APC Aspirants Ahead of Reps Primaries

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The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Ekiti State has warned aspirants contesting the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries against violence, thuggery and hate speech ahead of the exercise scheduled for Friday, May 15, 2026.

 

The warning was issued during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday at the Police Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, where security agencies and electoral officials met with APC aspirants participating in the primaries.

 

The meeting was attended by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State and Chairman of ICCES, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, alongside the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police and Co-Chairman of ICCES, Falade Adegoroye Micheal, as well as other members of the committee.

 

Speaking at the meeting, Omoseyindemi said the gathering became necessary to ensure peaceful, free, fair and credible conduct of the primaries. He urged aspirants to avoid acts capable of causing breakdown of law and order before, during and after the election.

 

The REC specifically cautioned politicians against the use of thugs, violence and inflammatory statements, stressing that all stakeholders must work together to sustain peace and democratic stability in the state.

 

Also addressing the aspirants, Commissioner of Police Falade disclosed that security agencies had received intelligence reports indicating that some individuals were allegedly planning to disrupt the primaries.

 

He warned that anyone found engaging in violence or any act capable of jeopardising the peaceful conduct of the exercise would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

 

Other ICCES members also advised the aspirants to embrace peace and conduct themselves responsibly throughout the electoral process.

 

As part of resolutions reached at the meeting, all aspirants signed an undertaking committing themselves to maintaining peace, political stability and democratic order before, during and after the APC primaries.

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APC Postpones House of Reps Primary by One Day

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APC has postponed the primary election for the House of Representative earlier slated for tomorrow, Friday, 15th May, 2026 to Saturday, 16th May, 2026.

 

 

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