Jide Ojo, a notable political analyst, has claimed that the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary was not a surprise, arguing that the ruling party’s selection process was effectively concluded long before delegates formally assembled to cast their votes.
Ojo made the remarks while analyzing the internal political dynamics of the APC and the broader implications for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, where competition among political parties is expected to intensify. He suggested that what played out at the primary was largely a formal confirmation of an already established decision rather than a genuinely open contest.
According to a video from 21:47 posted on the Official YouTube channel of Channels Television on Monday, May 25, 2026, the political analyst said, “it was already predetermined more than a year ago that Tinubu will be the presidential candidate for APC,” despite the conduct of the party’s primary election process.
He argued that the structure and internal power arrangements within the ruling party made it unlikely for any serious challenger to emerge against the incumbent political leadership. In his view, key political stakeholders within the APC had already aligned behind a single direction well ahead of the formal electoral exercise.
Ojo further stated that the sequence of endorsements, political consultations, and strategic alignments observed within the party in the months leading up to the primary strongly indicated that the outcome had been politically settled. He noted that such developments often reduce internal party contests to symbolic procedures rather than competitive democratic processes.
He maintained that what Nigerians witnessed was closer to a coronation than a primary election, where the outcome was already widely anticipated by political observers. According to him, this perception raises concerns about the internal democratic practices of major political parties and their commitment to genuine competition.
Ojo explained that in a truly competitive internal democracy, aspirants would have equal opportunity to mobilize support, present their visions, and contest freely without overwhelming pre-existing consensus determining the final outcome. However, he argued that the reality within the APC at the time reflected a different scenario.
He also pointed out that political dominance by a single faction or figure within a party often shapes decision-making processes and reduces uncertainty in leadership selection. This, he said, can weaken internal party democracy and limit the emergence of alternative leadership voices.
The analyst emphasized that while political stability within parties can sometimes enhance coordination, it may also discourage internal competition, which is essential for strengthening democratic institutions. He noted that party primaries are meant to serve as a mechanism for testing popularity, legitimacy, and policy direction among aspirants.
Ojo added that the broader implication of such predetermined outcomes is that voters may begin to perceive elections as lacking genuine choice, which could affect public trust in democratic processes over time.
He urged political parties to strengthen their internal democratic structures by ensuring that aspirants are allowed to compete fairly and transparently, without undue influence from entrenched interests or pre-arranged political agreements.
The analyst concluded that while the APC remains a dominant political force in Nigeria, its internal processes will continue to attract scrutiny, especially as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections, where political competition and voter expectations are expected to be significantly higher….Read_More…