On Tuesday, the national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Sylvester Ezeokenwa, publicly called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to reverse a key electoral reform. Appearing on Channels Television's 'Politics Today', Ezeokenwa argued for the reintroduction of indirect primaries as a mode for selecting party candidates. His appeal directly challenges the provisions of the recently signed Electoral Act of 2026, which mandates political parties to conduct only direct primaries or adopt consensus candidacy.
Ezeokenwa's primary contention centers on logistics. He stated that forcing parties to hold direct primaries, where all registered party members vote, could pose significant operational challenges for political organizations. This formal request places a major policy debate back on the table just over a year before the 2027 general elections, signaling potential friction between some political parties and the electoral framework established by the new law.
The APGA chairman's appeal landed on the same day election officials issued stern warnings for an imminent state contest. INEC's Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, cautioned all political parties participating in the Osun governorship election to shun abusive language, hate speech, and violence. Agboke delivered this warning through a statement issued by the commission's Public Relations Officer, Mr. Musa Olurode, on Tuesday in Osogbo.
This warning is timed precisely for the official start of political campaigns. Campaigns for the 2026 Osun governorship election are scheduled to commence on Wednesday, March 11. In his statement, Agboke urged all parties, candidates, and their supporters to conduct their campaigns in a peaceful and orderly manner, acting in strict compliance with the 2026 Electoral Act and INEC's own regulations.
The Osun REC's statement contained specific prohibitions and advice. He reminded parties that the law prohibits the use of abusive language, hate speech, violence, or any act capable of disrupting public peace during the campaign period. Agboke also advised parties and candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns that would enable voters to make informed choices when they go to the polls on August 15.
Agboke broadened his appeal beyond the political actors themselves. He called on supporters, security agencies, civil society organizations, the media, and the general public to play their respective roles in ensuring the campaign period is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. The commissioner assured stakeholders that INEC remains committed to working with all relevant bodies to ensure a conducive environment for political activities and to deliver a credible, inclusive, transparent, and violence-free election.
These dual developments reveal INEC's simultaneous focus on immediate electoral conduct and the broader legal framework governing future polls. While the commission's Osun office tackles the practicalities of a campaign starting in 24 hours, a national party leader is lobbying to reshape the rules for the next national cycle. The direct primary system, now law, was designed to increase grassroots participation in candidate selection, but APGA's challenge suggests some parties find its implementation burdensome.
The coming weeks will test both the enforcement of campaign rules in Osun and the receptiveness of INEC and lawmakers to APGA's call for legislative change. The next concrete step in the Osun process is the official launch of campaigns on Wednesday, March 11, with all parties on notice to avoid inflammatory rhetoric. Meanwhile, APGA's request for indirect primaries sets the stage for potential legislative review as the country looks toward the 2027 general elections, for which INEC has already begun logistical planning, including seeking collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force.
