APC Defends Post-Primary Candidate Substitutions, Says Changes Complied with Electoral Laws

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended its decision to substitute some candidates following its recently concluded party primaries, maintaining that every change was made in accordance with its internal procedures and the provisions of Nigeria's electoral laws.

The ruling party dismissed allegations that it unlawfully replaced candidates or handed tickets to individuals who did not participate in the primary election process, insisting that the substitutions were the outcome of a transparent review mechanism established to address complaints from aggrieved aspirants.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the party received over 720 petitions from aspirants dissatisfied with the conduct or outcome of the primaries.

According to him, the petitions were carefully examined by designated appeal committees before recommendations were submitted to the party's National Working Committee (NWC), which carried out a further review before reaching final decisions on the affected constituencies.

Morka explained that the adjustments made after the review process were legitimate outcomes of the party's primary election exercise rather than arbitrary decisions.

He stressed that the primary election process extends beyond the casting and counting of votes, arguing that the appeal stage forms an integral component of the entire nomination exercise.

According to the APC spokesman, every complaint received by the party was given adequate consideration to ensure fairness and justice for all contestants.

He noted that disagreements are common in competitive political contests, especially where several aspirants seek a single ticket, but emphasized that the party remained committed to resolving disputes through established internal mechanisms.

The APC has recently come under criticism from some aspirants and political observers who alleged that certain candidates who emerged victorious during the primaries were later replaced without sufficient legal justification.

Some critics also claimed that individuals who neither purchased nomination forms nor participated in the primary elections eventually secured party tickets through substitutions.

Responding to the allegations, Morka said he was unaware of any such instance and challenged those making the claims to provide verifiable evidence.

He maintained that no aspirant who failed to undergo the party's nomination procedures was declared a candidate, adding that any verified complaint would be investigated accordingly.

The controversy surrounding candidate substitutions has generated significant debate within political circles, particularly as preparations intensify for forthcoming elections across the country.

Political analysts note that disputes arising from party primaries have become a recurring feature of Nigeria's electoral process, with disagreements over delegate lists, voting procedures, and nomination outcomes frequently ending up before party appeal panels or the courts.

Legal experts have also expressed differing opinions on the scope of political parties' powers to substitute candidates after primaries, especially in relation to the provisions of the Electoral Act and decisions of Nigerian courts in previous election cycles.

Despite the criticism, the APC insists its internal processes complied with its constitution and electoral guidelines.

Party officials argue that the appeal mechanism exists to correct irregularities that may have occurred during the primaries and to ensure deserving aspirants receive fair consideration before final candidate lists are submitted to the electoral commission.

The ruling party also believes that resolving internal disputes through established procedures helps strengthen party cohesion and reduces the likelihood of prolonged litigation that could affect its electoral prospects.

Observers say the handling of post-primary disputes will remain under close public scrutiny as political parties continue preparations for future elections.

The issue is expected to remain a subject of legal and political debate, particularly where aggrieved aspirants challenge substitutions before the courts or the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

For now, however, the APC maintains that every substitution carried out after its primaries followed due process and reflected decisions reached after extensive review of petitions submitted by party members.

The development underscores the continuing importance of transparent internal dispute resolution mechanisms within political parties as Nigeria's democratic institutions evolve and preparations for future electoral contests gather momentum.