President Bola Tinubu has directed his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, to supervise the All Progressives Congress primaries for Senate and House of Representatives seats in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
The decision follows a series of high level consultations with lawmakers, including members of the Senate and House of Representatives, who have stressed the importance of maintaining internal party democracy throughout the candidate selection process.
Under the new directive, the supervisory team will work closely with APC state governors, the National Working Committee, as well as the leadership of the National Assembly. Their role will involve coordinating political stakeholders and ensuring that the primaries are conducted in a peaceful, transparent and credible manner across the country.
Despite the added layer of oversight, the statutory responsibilities of the party remain unced. The APC National Secretariat will continue to organize and conduct the primaries in line with the Electoral Act and the party’s elished guidelines. This includes issuing notices, screening aspirants, deploying panels and officially collating results.
Gbajabiamila and Masari are expected to focus primarily on monitoring compliance with due process, managing disputes and providing regular updates to the President on the progress of the primaries. Their involvement is seen as a move to strengthen confidence in the process while minimizing conflicts that could arise during the exercise.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of pressure from influential party figures seeking an expansion of the supervisory structure. However, President Tinubu has reportedly declined such proposals, expressing concern that a broader structure could undermine the integrity and independence of the primary election process.
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