IBBUL Hosts Symposium on Party Primaries, Calls for Urgent Electoral Reforms

Prominent academics, policymakers and political stakeholders have called for urgent reforms to Nigeria's political party primary election process, warning that the country's democratic future will remain at risk unless transparency, accountability, internal party democracy and the rule of law are strengthened.

The call was made at the 7th Annual Symposium of the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, IBBUL, Lapai. Participants identified candidate imposition, godfatherism, monetisation of politics and weak internal party democracy as major obstacles to credible elections and sustainable democratic governance.

The symposium was themed, "Primary Elections and Their Dynamics in Nigeria."

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Mohammed Aliyu Bello, said understanding the complexities of party primary elections is essential to strengthening Nigeria's democratic process. 

He noted that primary elections play a decisive role in shaping political leadership and governance, and expressed confidence that the symposium would provide a platform to examine the historical, political and democratic implications of party primaries. 

Professor Bello commended the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation for its commitment to organising intellectual engagements on contemporary national issues. He reaffirmed the university's commitment to promoting research and academic excellence through increased support for research projects, workshops and collaborations with TETFund and other local and international institutions.

Earlier, the Director of the Centre, Professor Sallawu Muhammad Lawal, said the theme was chosen because party primary elections not only shape general election outcomes but also determine the quality of political leadership and party cohesion. He noted that the symposium, now in its seventh edition, has addressed issues including federalism, the 2019 general elections, insecurity, COVID-19 and food security.

This year's edition featured papers by newly promoted professors. Professor Mammam Saba Abdulkadiri presented "Issues and Dimensions in the Political Party Primary Elections in Nigeria's Fourth Republic: Implications for Sustainable Democratic Governance." Professor Ahmed Mohammed Letswa presented "From Balance to Anointing: How the Erosion of Internal Democracy Threatens Nigeria's Democratic Consolidation."

In his lead paper, Professor Abdulkadiri argued that the credibility of Nigeria's democracy is largely determined during party primaries. He listed challenges including candidate imposition, godfatherism, vote-buying, excessive nomination fees and delegate manipulation. 

He recommended stronger oversight of party primaries by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, reduction in nomination fees to encourage youth and women participation, digitalisation of party membership registers, strict enforcement of electoral laws, and reforms to restore merit and transparency in candidate selection. The paper was discussed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Professor Salihu Mohammed Niworu.

Professor Letswa, in the second lead paper, said the decline of internal democracy within political parties threatens democratic development. He cited elite domination, exclusion and the capture of party structures by political and economic interests as factors that have produced poor leadership recruitment and voter apathy. 

He called for comprehensive electoral and party reforms, strict adherence to the rule of law, transparent primaries, greater participation of party members, and full implementation of existing electoral laws. The paper was discussed by Professor Sheikh Abubakar Danjuma.

In a goodwill message, Niger State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Sheshi Katcha, described the symposium as timely. He said credible party primaries are fundamental to responsible leadership and stressed that sustainable democracy thrives on transparency, accountability, merit, justice and the rule of law. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago administration to quality tertiary education, research and good governance.

In his vote of thanks, Deputy Director of the Centre, Dr. Sheshi T. Sidi, appreciated the Vice-Chancellor, speakers, participants and sponsors. He said the recommendations from the symposium would enrich academic discourse and contribute to strengthening democratic governance in Nigeria.

Papers presented at the symposium will be published in honour of the late former Governor of Niger State and Founder of IBBUL, Engineer Abdulkadir A. Kure.