APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru says party hierarchy ultimately determines candidates for key elections despite primary contests.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Ajibola Basiru, has stated that the party’s primary elections are not the final mechanism through which candidates emerge for major political offices.
Basiru made the disclosure in a video that has circulated widely online, where he was seen addressing party members during what appeared to be an internal meeting.
Speaking in Yoruba, the APC chieftain explained that candidates for positions including the presidency, Senate and House of Representatives are ultimately uploaded by the party’s National Secretariat.
According to him, discussions around whether certain aspirants win or lose primaries should not be viewed as the decisive stage of the process, suggesting that the party leadership plays the central role in determining who eventually emerges on the ballot.
The remarks have drawn attention because they touch directly on the internal workings of candidate selection within one of Nigeria’s largest political parties. At a time when political parties are already positioning ahead of future electoral contests, Basiru’s comments place renewed focus on how nominations are managed within party structures.
As of the time of the statement, there was no indication that the APC had issued any official clarification regarding the remarks.