The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has announced plans to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to reinstate statutory delegates in political party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a meeting with the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, Akpabio described the exclusion of statutory delegates in the last election cycle as an unintended oversight that must be corrected. He explained that the omission created “super-delegates,” as only ad hoc delegates were permitted to vote, excluding key political figures such as the President, Vice President, Governors, and National Assembly members from the process.
Akpabio emphasized the need to make democracy more participatory by ensuring that all eligible statutory delegates are included in future primaries. He also raised concerns about the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in candidate selection, arguing that political parties should have the authority to choose candidates that align with their manifestos and have a proven track record of service.
Beyond electoral reforms, Akpabio called on the NBA to take stronger action against unqualified legal practitioners, including some senior lawyers who had not been formally called to the bar. In response, NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) urged the National Assembly to prioritize justice sector reforms in the ongoing constitutional amendments.
