By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
Renowned Nigerian U.S.-based journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, has cautioned against the wholesale adoption of direct primaries in Nigeria’s political parties, warning that the system could trigger widespread electoral manipulation rather than genuine reform ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement titled “In Defence of Delegates,” Jaafar argued that while direct primaries appear more democratic on the surface, Nigeria’s fragile party structures and weak oversight mechanisms could turn the process into what he described as “mass manipulation.”
Drawing from historical experience, he recalled the controversial vote-counting process under Option A4 in the early 1990s. According to him, although the system was designed to promote transparency through open queuing, the counting process was often manipulated.
“The presiding officer would count normally at first. One, two, three… but once he reached ten, the arithmetic would become creative. A queue of about 50 people could magically transform into 500 on paper,” he said, noting that transparency in form did not necessarily guarantee integrity in outcome.
Jaafar warned that similar distortions could occur under direct primaries if party membership registers remain porous and inflated. He argued that in an environment where accreditation processes can be compromised and oversight remains weak, expanding participation without strengthening institutions could simply widen the scale of fraud.
He maintained that the delegate system, though imperfect, is rooted in representative democracy, where selected individuals act on behalf of a larger group—similar to how lawmakers represent constituents.
“Modern democracy is necessarily representative,” he stated, adding that population growth and logistical realities make pure direct democracy impractical.
Jaafar questioned the logic of abolishing delegates on the grounds of corruption, pointing out that lawmakers elected through direct voting have also been accused of accepting inducements in the course of their legislative duties.
“If corruption among representatives invalidates delegation, then representative democracy itself stands accused,” he argued.
According to him, the core issue is not whether primaries are direct or indirect, but the integrity of the process — including who controls the party register, who accredits voters, who counts the ballots, and who announces the results.
He further lamented the role of poverty in Nigeria’s electoral system, saying economic hardship has made voters susceptible to inducements.
“When hunger is acute, conscience becomes negotiable. A pack of spaghetti, a few thousand naira, or a kilogramme of rice becomes the currency of political loyalty,” he said, stressing that citizens often vote out of necessity rather than conviction.
Jaafar concluded that without credible institutions and strong oversight, reforms in the mode of primaries may do little to improve Nigeria’s internal party democracy and could instead deepen electoral instability ahead of 2027.
